Ebdon is made to fight

Peter Ebdon’s defence of his Embassy World Championship title hangs in the balance after another tense session with Paul Hunter in Sheffield.

The world number three from Wellingborough is trying to become the only first-time winner of the title to defend the trophy.

But after 16 frames with his Leeds-based rival, the pair cannot be separated.

Three times Ebdon opened up a two-frame lead against first-time quarter-finalist Hunter during today’s second session after starting the day at 4-4.

However, each time the Yorkshireman fought back, including a couple of vital frames at the end.

Hunter followed up an 11th-frame break of 120 with 128 to trim his arrears to 8-7.

And he eventually nicked the 16th frame on the pink after a couple of vital misses by the world champion.

Ebdon missed a black on a break of 41 and then later failed to pot the last green with a chance to take a 9-7 lead.

The pair face nine more frames tonight to find a winner to meet Ken Doherty or John Higgins in the last four.

Mark Williams earlier became only the second player to return to number one in the world rankings.

Williams is the new number one after his clinical 13-7 victory over friend and rival Stephen Hendry.

Williams’ fellow Welshman Ray Reardon was the last man to achieve the feat exactly two decades ago when he took over from Canadian Cliff Thorburn.

But after reaching one of his goals the 28-year-old from Cwm is now just two wins away from becoming world champion for the first time since 2000.

Stephen Lee, the world number seven, or Hong Kong’s Marco Fu stand in Williams’ way as he chases a triple crown.

Only a small group of players have ever won the World, UK and Masters titles in the same season and Williams is favourite to join the select club.

He resumed this morning with a 10-6 lead and required only another 45 minutes to end Hendry’s quest for an eighth world crown.

“13-7 is a good result for me against a player like Stephen,” said Williams.

“He didn’t play that well to be fair and I won a few scrappy frames. In the end I did enough to win though I know I can play better.

“It’s great to get back to number one. That’s what I’ve been practising hard for in the last 12 months or so.

“Now, I’ve got it back, it’s a great achievement. I think I’m only the second player to regain it and I feel really proud because the standard of the game now is so high.

“I wouldn’t say I’m playing as well as I did when I won the world title. I’m not far away but hopefully I can improve.

“When Stephen and I are playing I want to beat him as much as any other player. But when you shake hands and are walking out of the arena then I wish I’d beaten someone else.”

Williams might have expected to play Ronnie O’Sullivan for a place in the final. But O’Sullivan went down to Fu, depriving the championship of seeing a real grudge match.

“Ideally, if you win the world championship you want to beat all the best players,” added Williams.

“And Ronnie is one of the best players. But I suppose it does help that he’s gone out though it will just as tough against Stephen or Marco.”

Disappointed Hendry said: “I hope Mark goes on to win it now but it doesn’t really make it any easier losing to a mate.

“It wasn’t the best match Mark and I have ever played. I was good in patches but I didn’t make the most of my chances.

“I felt if I could have got level during the second session on Tuesday night I might have been able to forge ahead. But 10-6 is too big a deficit to make up against a player like Mark.

“He is going to be tough to beat now and I hope he wins it. However, there are other players who are looking good.

“If John Higgins wins from 10-0 down against Ken Doherty that will give his confidence a massive lift. And Peter Ebdon is still looking strong and making a good defence of his title.”