See Peter and John receive their trophies here
A visibly delighted Peter Ebdon has won his eighth ranking event title with a hard fought 10-8 victory over old rival John Higgins. Click below to read how he did it…
Match Result
John Higgins 8-10 Peter Ebdon
87(60)-4, 1-84(84), 15-109(108), 78-15, 5-65, 57-68, 64-10, 56(56)-72(54), 140(140)-0
16-114(52,57), 105(62)-13, 68(43)-46, 25-55, 75(51)-32(32), 43-67(40), 63-53(52), 3-64, 8-86(71)
Congratulations to Peter Ebdon who has won his eighth ranking event title with a 10-8 victory over Scotland’s John Higgins.
Coming into the session with a slender 5-4 lead, Peter got off to a terrific start with breaks of 52 and 57 to lead 6-4. For a moment it looked as though he might make it 7-4 but John hung in there and with breaks of 62 and 43 was level at 6-6. Peter then went ahead again before in frame 12, John looked to be making it 7-7 in one visit only to miss a straightforward pink into the left-centre on 51. Peter had a great opportunity to capitalise and move two ahead again at 8-6, but could not take it and a relieved Higgins made it 7-7.
As the topsy turvy nature of the final dictated, Peter then went back in front at 8-7 before what turned out to be an epic frame/ Peter made the early running with a break of 52 but having looked good to take it, Higgins fought back to just three points behind with only pink and black on the table. Both were very edgy at this point, Ebdon missing a couple of wild attempts into the green pocket before Higgins missed with the rest into the yellow pocket. The decisive moment came however when Ebdon attempted to double the pink the full length of the table into the green pocket, missing and leaving it over the right-centre. John duly knocked it in followed by the black and they were level again at 8-8.
Could this be a turning point and allow John to get some momentum? No as it turned out as in the last two frames he scored just 11 points. Frame 17 was all but decided when Peter put John in a horrible snooker behind the brown, while a 71 in frame 18 all but secured the trophy. John carried on for a short while needing three snookers to tie, but it was not to be and Peter managed to get over the line.
Really well done to Peter because coming into the event having won just two matches all season, looking like dropping out of the top 16 and having been written off by many, this is a real achievement for him. I did not see his earlier matches this week but I was impressed with how strong he looked against Stephen Hendry in the quarter-finals and he has managed to keep up this form for the rest of the week. As I say, this is his eighth ranking event title now, his first since the 2006 UK Championship (when he also defeated both Hendry and Higgins along the way), and his first overseas since the 1997 Thailand Open. It will now be very interesting to see how he gets on at the World Championship in a couple of months with the pressure right off having secured his top 16 place for another year.
For John he will be gutted to lose, but while he has had a great run this week, he has not quite been able to produce his best snooker on a consistent basis. Also having fallen 4-0 behind against Anthony Hamilton earlier on in the week I suspect that he would have taken the runner-up spot right then! Another consolation is that he is up to top spot in the one-year rankings, as well as back up to fifth in the provisional rankings so should go into the World Championship in good spirits.
Overall it was a very enjoyable final and indeed an interesting tournament as a whole as those players who really needed a strong performance this week such as Ebdon, Hendry and Graeme Dott duly delivered it. All in all now it makes things very interesting going into the big one later this month…
Yes, a very good final. Well done Peter and he fully deserved it. Higgins also made it a good final. Pressure on his top 16 ranking coming into this event, but with Peter Ebdon, when the pressure is on, he thrives and what a way to make the top 16 ranking safe. So close to the worlds now – he’ll be coming into the tournament in form, but it is rare for the winner of the penultimate tournament to win the WC. I’d like to see him reach the quarters (perhaps a repeat of his 2001 clash against Stephen Lee in the 2nd round which I watched all three close sessions at the crucible). If he gets to the quarters it could then be a repeat of the 05 QF against Ronnie which would be fascinating. (although I’d like to see Mark Allen upset the apple cart.)
Overall, i thought the China Open was one of the best tournaments of the season – A lot of first and second round surprises and the players who did do well were a lot of the established names who have struggled for form like Dott, Hendry and of course Ebdon. Stuart Pettman was a major surprise and beating Dott, Carter and Allen was unexpected. Hendry may have some confidence back – I think the tough match for him will be Williams, but if he wins that I think he will get through to the semis at least.
Congratulations to Peter Ebdon, he really deserves it! I’m really glad for him, this will trully be a confidence boost for him for the upcoming world championship! Job well done Peter
As predicted a few days ago when I said – (April 4th) “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.” Although not a tough call I am pretty pleased with the way I am reading the game. I am not sure Ebdon’s performance this week can be put in the same category as Hendry’s! Anyway I am bias towards Steve Davis and since my predictions are pretty good at the moment I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a good battle with Robertson and takes it close or dare I say it wins! Can’t see Hendry getting to the semis as stated above in the WC! Not sure two nervy, close wins against Milkins and Walden mean he is back near his best. I will reserve judgement until he beats Williams but by my reckoning Williams is the more likely at present to win that match up, even allowing for his 5-3, 5-4 wins! Dott and Ebdon I feel are more likely to go further at Sheffield as they have proven recent form there and have some more significant recent form. However there will be some surprises and Im hoping Steve pulls it out one more time…..watch out Aussie lad!
I actually agree that I think Williams will beat Hendry – I think the first round is often tough anyway and he got probably the toughest draw. (although Williams has been better, he has not been doing enough to show he’s returning to his best – 16th in one year list) BUT, if Hendry does got through that match I fancy him to beat Liang or Ding next and then perhaps Murphy in quarters. I think Ebdon beating Higgins was not a surprise – Their head to head record used to be about 11-6 in Ebdon’s favour, albeit I don’t remember them ever meeting in a final.
Although Dott had a good win against Selby, he has a good record in China, so not overly surprising, but he has a few wins this season, but in the crucible, he has a strange record – One win and one final looks great, but of his other 8 appearances, his record is 6 * 1st round losses and 2 * 2nd round losses. It wouldn’t surprise me if he loses to Hawkins. If he does get through and Selby as well, I certainly think the match against Selby would have a different outcome than in China