Ebdon speeds ahead as McCulloch storms clear

PETER EBDON quickened the pace after his controversial go-slow against Ronnie O’Sullivan to seize early control of his Embassy World Championship semi-final with Shaun Murphy at the Crucible.

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.