Reardon stands up for Ebdon

Peter Ebdon has received the backing of Ronnie O’Sullivan’s mentor Ray Reardon as he looks to strengthen his grip on the Embassy World Championship semi-final with outsider Shaun Murphy.

O’Sullivan was incensed by the go-slow approach of Ebdon when crashing out 13-11 in the quarter-finals after leading 8-2 at one juncture.