Marathon men going all the way

Peter Ebdon and Graeme Dott made history by being involved in the longest frame in 29 years of World Championship snooker at the Crucible Theatre.

Ebdon and Dott required one hour, 14 minutes and eight seconds to complete the 27th frame in the best-of-35 final.

It surpassed the previous longest of one hour and nine minutes in the final frame of the 1985 final when Dennis Taylor edged out Steve Davis 18-17 at 12.19am.

Ebdon finally won the frame by clearing from green to blue to chalk up his fifth successive frame of the evening to reduce his deficit to 15-12.

Their marathon effort was also the longest televised frame in history, overtaking the hour-and-13-minute marathon between Steve Davis and Dean O’Kane in the World Team Cup in 1989.

Dott had started the final session leading 15-7 and needing only three more frames to become the first Scot this century to win the title.

But Ebdon is renowned for his powers of concentration and never-say-die attitude and he was a transformed player after disappointing in the opening three sessions.

Ebdon had to make an instant impact if he was to have any hope of clawing his way back into the match and he made the perfect start to the evening.

The 2002 world champion showed his mettle with a superb 117 clearance – the first century of the final.

Dott looked favourite to win the next but after compiling 51 he missed a black off its spot and a 32 clearance from Ebdon proved sufficient despite a kick on the green.

Twenty-eight-year-old Dott was suddenly looking less assured and Ebdon chalked up a third successive frame with a superb long red paving the way for a decisive 33 to the yellow.

Dott needed to stop the rot but he broke down on 37 in frame 26 when missing a cut on a red into the black pocket.

Ebdon was now oozing confidence and a 66 to the pink completed the pre-interval whitewash and left his opponent with plenty to think about.

Then came the marathon 27th frame and one wondered whether Dott would be able to recover from such a body blow.

In contrast the next saw Ebdon quickly amongst the balls and a break of 84 in only 11 minutes cut his deficit to just two frames.