Ebdon speeds ahead as McCulloch storms clear
O’Sullivan had been incensed by the snail-like speed of Ebdon, who averaged 37 seconds per shot in recovering from 8-2 down to triumph 13-11.
But it was a far more fluent Ebdon on display against outsider Murphy and each shot was averaging only 26 seconds - almost 50% faster - as he established a 6-2 lead in the first session of the best-of-33-frame contest.
The eight frames only spanned two hours, 14 minutes with Ebdon clocking up five 50-plus breaks.
The 2002 champion drew first blood yesterday with runs of 47 and 30 in a 20-minute opening frame.
Murphy opened his account in frame two despite initially breaking down on 34 when attempting a slow red and a 43 clearance brought him back on level terms.
The Rotherham-based player, failed to convert a red when bridging over another ball in the third and Ebdon’s 78 to the blue edged him back in front.
Ebdon went into the mid-session holding a two-frame lead after an opening 70 in the next left Murphy requiring snookers.
A run of 77 enabled Murphy to halve his deficit after the restart and he was first amongst the balls in frame six. But he missed a red hanging over the black pocket and Ebdon’s 52 proved decisive and then he stretched his advantage to three frames with a 69.
Murphy led 40-6 in the final frame but Ebdon looked on top of his game and a 93 clearance polished off proceedings.
Ian McCulloch stunned new tournament favourite Matthew Stevens by opening up a four-frame lead in the opening session of their semi-final.
McCulloch, compiled four half centuries and two hundred-plus breaks.
McCulloch was into his stride from the start and capitalised after Stevens had missed a yellow - when playing left-handed - with a decisive run of 61 to take the opening frame.
In the next McCulloch punished Stevens for a poor break-off shot with a 53.
Stevens, struggling to find any rhythm, quickly found himself trailing further after under-hitting a blue to allow McCulloch in for another half century.
McCulloch then completed a pre-interval whitewash, snicking a thin red into the middle pocket on his way to a 127 clearance.
Stevens broke his duck after a tense 37-minute fifth frame encounter by clearing from green to pink, but McCulloch ensured that he would have an overnight lead with a 122 clearance in frame six after Stevens missed a red into the middle.
A run of 56 from Stevens cut his deficit to 5-2 but McCulloch re-asserted his authority with an 83 break in the final frame after sinking a superb long red.
Meanwhile O’Sullivan’s coach-mentor Ray Reardon is confident that O’Sullivan will return to action at some stage next season.
O’Sullivan had said he was “90% certain” of taking a 12-month break after his defeat by Ebdon, but Reardon is predicting he will return in a maximum of six months.
He said: “This morning I had breakfast with Ronnie and he was as right as ninepence.
“It was like a load had been taken off his mind. He is really at peace with himself and he has gone back to London happy”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
