Ebdon set on retaining title

PETER EBDON will return to the scene of a victory he rates above his world title triumph when he defends his Sanyuan Foods China Open crown in Beijing next week.

The 39-year-old was at a low ebb last year following the breakdown of his marriage, and was in danger of tumbling out of the all-important top 16 places in the world rankings.

He is once again in rankings trouble, and stands 18th provisionally after starting the season in 14th place, so would love to repeat his run to the final where 12 months ago he beat John Higgins.

Ebdon went on to lose in the first round of the World Championship, which he won in 2002, while Higgins went all the way to land his third title at the Crucible.

But the points he accumulated in China secured Ebdon his place in the elite pack of players who automatically qualify for ranking events.

Reflecting on his Beijing achievement, Ebdon said: “I was in a state mentally, and my game wasn’t there.

“Because of what I was going through in my personal life, I would have to rate winning in China as my greatest ever victory.

“Even ahead of the (2006) UK Championship, when I played my best ever snooker, and the (2002) World Championship, which is my most significant win.

“I’m incredibly proud of what I achieved in Beijing. It’s also very important to do well in China because it’s such a huge and developing market, the people are fanatical about snooker.”

He added: “I go to China with great determination. I put my heart and soul into winning it last year, it was a massive effort. Now I need to do it again because my top 16 place is under threat.”

Although the tournament begins on Monday, Ebdon will not start his campaign until Wednesday. He takes on Judd Trump, the young Englishman who missed out on qualifying for the World Championship this year but for some time has been touted for a big future in snooker.