Former title holder Peter Ebdon and underdog Marco Fu shared the opening four frames of their 888.com World Snooker Championship semi-final clash at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

World number one Ronnie O’Sullivan will be looking to better last year’s quarter-final exit by opening up with a 888.com World Championship victory against Stoke’s Dave Harold, his opponent still going strong at a sprightly 40 years of age.