Peter Ebdon v Matthew Stevens, 2002 Snooker: World Championship

Hello again. In 2000 World Championship was a classic year for

drama, particularly from the semifinal stages on wards. On one

side of the draw, you had Stephen Hendry beating Ronnie O'Sullivan in

his semifinal, in a really heavyweight contest to reach a ninth

world final. The other half of draw featured England's Peter Ebdon and

Welshman Matthew Stevens. This was the match that really set the

tournament alight. The match against Peter was a fantastic match, one of

the best matches I played. We do chat about it sometimes. Just really

looking forward to it, and knowing that I would see to play really,

really well. Matthew has always been a top class match player. And he

seems to reserve his best form for the Crucible. Ebdon dominated the

first session. He seemed determined to reach a second Crucible final.

But Matthew Stevens was appearing quite the long match specialist. And

his comfort and confidence levels were growing. This was his third

semifinal in a row at the Crucible. In fact, he ensured had match was

all square going into the final session, and it was xerngsally high

in quality twel. No fewer than 24 breaks over 50. It turn out to be an

unforgettable conclusion on the heady

he finds a nice gap there. He needs a good positional shot on the blue.

He has a nice angle to play on the baulk.

It would be lovely if he could play for the black, get the black on its

spot. Just depends how he is on this red. If he is on the red in such a

way he can drop on the black, and pot the black, this could be a great

chance. He's got the nice angle. But it just shows, you see, this is how

certain players play the game. He preferred to rely on this technique

and push the cue through firm, rather than play a delicate little

shot. That's because he's feeling the pressure and that's how he copes

with it, if you like. He would rather play a full shot than a half

shot. Rather like my golf, my chip-in. If he is going to make a

frame-winning contribution here, he has to get the black into play. When

will he take the chance to play for it?

He's got to go up and down again. With the colours not on than spots

-- not on their spots. All the room in the world to do that.

Now he's got the pink on the spot and freely available. Peter Ebdon,

that safety mistakes could be very costly.

Uses his extension a lot, does Matthew, rather than use the rest.

An extra bit of reach. It has to be said - he plays it really well. You

notice he left the smaller butt on the baulk cushion. If the cue ball

had run down and hit that, it would've been a foul shot. He's the

only one I've seen leave it on the table. Well, he assumes he is not

going to miss. I assume he's playing for a plant

here, into the left corner. As you can see. The result.

APPLAUSE Always mentioning a while ago, it

would be lovely to get the black on the spot. He won't need it now. Got

the pink available and that's of course the advantage of the pink. 2

centre pockets, two corner pockets. Enough loose reds. This is a bit

different to the last frame. Again he refused to play for the

black. Obviously, he's firing it along the cushion. It's a little bit

tight. He's not come perfect on the pink.

So it's the blue. With a bit of work to do with the cue ball.

APPLAUSE Well, OK. He may have thought the

cue made it a big pocket, but any snooker player would have played

that blue into the middle. Alright, the green helped, and he knew that

could happen if he was wide on the left-hand side. So it wasn't as

lucky as maybe you probably thought at first.

Well, tried to get the black into play, but covered it with the red

that he cannoned. Yes, I think he made his mistake on the red before

he potted that blue. He was perfect on the red - he should've played for

the black then. He is 52 points in front, but still

a possible 67 left on the table. Peter Ebdon isn't out of this yet.

Ebdon hasn't put Stevens under any pressure with that safety though.

Here is the Stevens with the dreaded rest. He doesn't dread it quite as

much as our old friend John Spencer used to dread it, John. World

champion 3 times. Funnily enough, I was talking to thosh thosh thosh

again, I don't know -- talking to Cliff Thorburn, we used to dread at

the instruments. Not a bad shot. But it's not really

a telling safety. The only thing Peter Ebdon will have to be a little

bit wary off, if he plays the red near the right-hand side of the

table, he doesn't cross it across the table and maybe knock the black

in. I'm sure he's aware of that. APPLAUSE

Good shot! It might not fb in with a chance, but the thing is, he made it

difficult for Matthew to play a good safety shot, because of the length

of the cue ball. And with black developed in this safety exchange,

and therefore, pottable from more or less anywhere on the table, if Ebdon

can manage to pot an niche red, there would be a chance of a winning

clearance. Well, you can see his brain taking over here. There's a

possible pot on a red into the right corner. It's not a shot for nothing,

it's a shot, if you're confident, you take on. If he pots it, he's

certain to be on the black. If he misses this, he loses the frame.

Played it with confidence. Surely, he is not snookering himself for the

black. How unlucky is that. Committed to this pot, knew it

wasn't a shot for nothing, in it went and that tells you all.

Unlucky. It may be possible to pot the black

by playing cushion first. Yes, I think, it's, Clive, but... But he's

not certain to pot it. It's a little bit away from the pocket. He is

using all the extensions. It's not as if he is close in there. If he

did pot it, he may not be guaranteed to be on a red. If that red hadn't

have been there, it would've been simple, just drop the black in, no

problem. He played one good shot, he needs another now.

Well played. It also interesting now to see, he played it slow - so when

the black is spotted, is he on a red? Yes, he is. But off this red,

can he guarantee a position on the colour? If he can get this right,

this could be a chance. Tough one but a chance.

Played for pink, coming through the second ball, which was the black.

Stevens knows there's a possible clearance on now.

Good shot. I was saying earlier in the frame, when Matthew Stevens

played a shot firm, that when the little bit of tension on, he prefers

to hit them solid. I noticed with Peter, when the pressure is on, he

doesn't mind rolling a ball. He's got a chance now to win this frame.

Not ideal. Straighter would've been better.

Yes, a disappointing positional shot, that, in the way

Yes, a disappointing positional played for pink or black. So

APPLAUSE Safely in though.

And with the next red straightish... From not too far away... It's not

too complicated to keep the break going. Yes, if it wasn't for the

give him this. But not using the give him this. But not using the

Potted it but not clean. And he's not perfect on the pink. He's at the

wrong angle. If he was straight on the pink,

wrong angle. If he was straight on pot it, a screw back for the red in

the left corner. Can he hold for this last red? Just seeing where he

would finish if he cannoned into the black.

APPLAUSE Well! He fooled me. What a pot to go

for. But as we always see, with difficult pots, he concentrated that

much on the pot, he overscrewed and he's not on this red. Not ideal,

anyway. This is a very awkward cutback to

the right corner. And because it's a cutback, it's

bound to be a And because it's a cutback, it's

on the cue ball. He refused it.

APPLAUSE Ebdon doesn't like balledness --

boldness, but he refrained from going for what he thought was one

too many. It looks as though the safety shot

was the right choice. A poor safety choice for Matthew has left a chance

at this red, this red, any colour and the six remaining colours... And

a frame that Matthew Stevens looked as though he was going to win, this

could be one of these crucial frames that just turn a match.

Well, he just run a touch too far... If he was a little bit straighter on

the green wouldn't have been a problem. I don't think he can just

roll it in. That's why he's looking at the blue. This is a big shot on

the blue. If he's straight, he'll go for this left corner pocket. The

screwback... You see, if he was in a club on a practice table, he would

play the green and use a lot of left-hand side. But on the super

fine cloths, if you have a choice of playing a shot with side, and the

plain ball, you pick the plain ball. That's why he's playing the blue,

but it's more difficult than the green.

APPLAUSE Peter's concentrating it. Always

amazes me, one person coughs and it seems everybody gets a coughing fit.

Quiet, please, this is a big frame. Too far, but if you're going to be

wrong side of the blue, it's better to be much too far. In and out of

baulk for the pink. That cue ball needs to slow up

Well, he's on it. Still needs pink and black.

He's making a little bit hard work of this, is Peter.

APPLAUSE But now a good shot on the pink,

perfect on the black, this for the frame.

APPLAUSE A lot of resolve. Peter Ebdon wins

the frame and the black to level at 13-all.

If steef steef hadn't lost so -- if Stevens hadn't lost so many frames

from well in front, he would be in a commanding position. In the opening

session, he lost two from more than 50 in front, another from more than

60 in front. In the second session, he lost one from 73-0, and the

previous frame, he was 50 in front. But, he is playing one of the game's

great battlers. Yes, and Peter had a very close look at this. I think he

thinks it could be a 3-ball plant into the right corner.

He was having such a close look at the 3 balls, I thought they would go

to the right corner. In the end, not quite sure what he played. But I

tell you what - he would be very pleased after the last frame.

Probably he might have a slight edge now, confidence-wise, over Matthew.

When you get in the final session of one of these match, every frame is

so important. It has its own tlt story to tell. Does it boost one

player, does it upset another? That was the type of frame I'm certain

that Peter Ebdon thought he lost and it was a bonus to win it.

Trying to get behind brown and yellow. Hought

Trying to get behind brown and yellow. Good length. And the reds

are widespread. There's a let on here, second from the left. A little

tap on the table from Matthew, appreciating a good safety. I can't

see a safety for Matthew. I think he'll be forced into going for this

red. It's risky. Well, the only thing good about that

is that Stevens has put the black safe.

Only the blue and baulk colours to play for. The pink tied up, black

tied up. The whites are a slightly better

chance than normal. Obviously, you got to keep going the right side of

the blue. But he's got the comfort if he doesn't, there's a red in the

baulk end. If he needed it, the red would be there. Just being careful

he doesn't catch the black. So this time he's not got the right angle on

the blue. As I say, he's got that red in the baulk end, should he need

to play for it. There you go. You always get one

tall sat in front of you, don't you? Couldn't avoid the cannon on the

yellow, so didn't know exactly where the cue ball was going. Yes, and

he's going to need a good shot here to keep this going. He can't just

roll it in cos he will cannon the red. He has to find a gap here to

finish on nothing. Trying to find that gap, concentrating more on that

than the pot. That was a APPLAUSE

That was a good pot from Matthew. Had to play with pace and when the

cue ball is near the cushion, that's not simple.

Well, careless positional shot, Peter Ebdon immediately looks up.

Looks at Matthew and the reason he looks at Matthew, when he looks at

the other player's body language. Needs a good pot here.

Didn't try to do too much with the cue ball. Just by potting it, he

would be on the green. He hasn't recovered the situation. OK, he's on

the green and the next red is easier to follow... But he's going to have

a job clinching this frame unless he can get the pink in play, something

like that. Need a good shot now, only the blue

to play for. He's going to have to, I imagine, stun it round if he can.

That's improved his position. Although, he still hasn't got the

pink into play. A bit too straight on the blue, it

helps he's got the red in the baulk end. He may have to play for it now.

And he is doing, off the green. Well the cue ball's got to travel

significant distances, Stevens's easy cue power, is such an

advantage. Can hit the ball pretty hard... Without losing any accuracy.

He develops the pink at last. That could be the frame-winning shot and

he realise it -- and they realise it. The pink's in play niceline oi

the next red. -- nicely on the next red.

Steve Steve hasn't Wong this frame yet. -- Stevens hasn't won this

frame yet. Particularly not now. What a careless positional shot that

was. That pink could be a saviour for Peter Ebdon. It's on the spot,

not touching the cue ball. We say he doesn't like using the rest. Has he

touch the pink, remember? Oh, tremendous pot!

35 points in front. Well, you can't see him getting a black off this

red. So he needs red, colour, and one more red. Another rest shot.

APPLAUSE I think we better stop saying he's

not very good with the rest, Clive, because that was an excellent pot,

excellent position. He needs the pink and one more red to clinch this

frame. Couldn't get really close on the red

he needs, though. Ebdon very interested in this one.

This is frame-ball. But he if pots it, he certainly wins

the frame. Excellent! And it was also in his

favour, was that the black, which Ebdon needed, was safe.

Having a think, but he has lost a frame. Where Peter Ebdon needed a

couple of snookers. So yes, tucked up behind yellow. Should be enough.

43 in front, 35 on the table. That was indeed enough for Stevens to

regain the lead. But as we pick them up in the next, it's Ebdon fighting

back, as he always does, on a break of 35.

That looked very dangerous. He had to hit that very thin.

I wonder whether Stevens might risk rolling the one red onto the other.

Well, it's a risk, Clive, but he is 17 points behind but maybe it's

worth it and that's what he's playing. Good shot.

Giving himself a great chance now. To clinch this all-important last

frame before the mid-session interval. Big chance.

Ebdon knows his fate in this frame is in his opponent's hands.

Key shot coming up. If Stevens gets well on the black... It would be a

very heavy odds-on favourite. Oh, Peter, going to have a sip of

water. The next one I think he'll have is in his dressing room. I

don't think he'll come back to the table now in this frame. He's got a

perfect angle on the yellow, stun the yellow in, he is overstretching

though. He would rather than use the rest, but he's at full

stretch here. And a long distance between his hand and the cue ball.

As we said before, he plays that shot so as well. 9 points in front.

Green, brown and blue for the frame. And a big frame.

A frame which could put ebb teb two behind. -- which could put Ebdon two

behind. APPLAUSE

Just had to make sure of the blue. APPLAUSE

Stevens within two frames of the winning post. He leads by 15 frames

to 14 at the mid-session interval. And getting the cue ball somewhere

near the baulk cushion. 964 seats at the Crucible. And a

uniquely intimate atmosphere. Just shows

shot a few shots ago. As I say, you are never certain where the ball you

played is going to are never certain where the ball you

the black away and left this red. Stun it in. Can play for the black

in the same pocket. And I'm sure that's the shot to play back

in the same pocket. And I'm sure the pink. You need a lot more pace.

What can Peter Ebdon make of this reasonable chance?

Played with considerable power. To get back for pink or possibly blue.

Ebdon has to win four of the remain be five frames to go true to the

final. Yes, not straightforward, and the

problem he didn't pray the black, there was a red. If he potted the

black, it would be unavailable into both corners. That was a strange

reaction from the cue ball. Tough pink, this. He got down to play it

very quickly but this is missable. APPLAUSE

Good shot. Particularly with the added pressure of the match

situation. Were he to lose this frame, he would be three down with 4

to play. And another terrific pot from Peter.

He missed a few shots, just recently, uncharacteristically for

him. And what can happen - particularly

in pressure situations likes this, you miss a few shots and because you

didn't cue it well, you maybe snatched or didn't get the cueing

angle in through, maybe Peter is just now trying to shake that off.

He's playing with a little bit more pace around the table.

APPLAUSE Well he used that red on the side

cushion to pull the cue ball at this end. He may even elect to play the

red he just cannoned. The red he's got to the right corner, going to be

running into other reds, no guarantee of position. If he plays

the red into the far left corner, stun it in on the blue, this is the

easier pot but not guaranteed position on the colour.

Stevens taking a big interest now Ebdon has run out of position. It

was the wrong shot. Luck had to be on his side to get good position

there, going in all those reds. Yes, he really took the easier way out.

It's understandable in these situations, but having done it, he

may be wishing he played a different red. Send a break. At least he

didn't miss a pot and he's got a chance of playing a good cyst. -- a

good safety. And the 45-point lead is a pretty good one.

Needs to run on a bit. Heations. The red is -- he grimaces. The red is

cuttable to the middle. Well, that's the worst thing that

could have happened for Peter. He hit that so thin it hardly moved.

Worst of all, he brought the black into play! It was thin, but it

wasn't as thin as he played it. And he's been a little bit fortunate in

the respect that had only red he's left on, not got an ideal potting

angle. The only advantage for Matthew is the pink is knee the far

pocket. If he can pot the red, odds are he can pot the pink.

And he needs to pot this, though. He played it in the corner. It's there!

Great pot! APPLAUSE

Great pot! And he's on the pink. , well, that was just the different.

The not to middle was easier. -- the pot to middle was easier, but the

not to corner was the shot to play. For positional reasons.

Uncertain a few shots ago that Matthew thought he lost the frame.

It had gone bound recall. He's got a chance now to go within one frame of

a frame in the final. Peter had his chance.

Got into that a bit too much. Yes, Clive, you get the feeling the old

adrenaline is getting a bit too much pace in these shots. Wow! I didn't

expect him to miss the pinch some of the the chance he

expect him to miss the pinch some of frame has now gone and I think he's

going to lose it. Just that extra

produced And only red and colour needed now.

Stevens resigned to losing this frame when he had a chance to steal

it. APPLAUSE

Yes, well, a big miss that could be for Matthew Stevens. Peter won the

frame now. Easy black, just to drop on this last red. And it was

noticeable to me that Peter Ebdon came out with a lot more aggressive

attitude. His pace around the table, if he had lost this frame, that

would have definitely slowed him down. But not now. He got the result

he wanted. 42 in front. A snooker behind the

black. Stevens concedes. Ebdon reduces the gap to a single frame

but still trails by 15 frames to 14. I don't know how seriously that is

going to restrict the angle at which Ebdon can play away.

There was still a fair-sized gap to play through. Yes, but he didn't

really want to kiss the yellow. You can see there's a red to this right

corner. The black is in the opposite corner, but you got to work out the

percentages and the risk factor is too great.

A nice little kiss off the yellow, and the Peter can't get to the angle

on the red so he can come down the left-hand side of the table, and it

doesn't look as though he can, he's got a problem here. He's got a big

problem. Yes, within a fraction of an inch.

It's quite right for the miss rule in this instance, because slow is

safe. A fraction too hard could be dangerous.

Well, I don't think he can make his mind up whether heck see enough of

this red to pot it in the right centre. He still can't make his

mind. He can clearly pot it. He needs to be sure.

In it goes. APPLAUSE

So quite right, Clive, he didn't get out that snooker. Just a fraction

too hard and that's what left that red on. Well, what a good positional

shot is. That cue ball needs to bounce. If it had just bounced an

inch, he could have potted the red and held for the black. Now he's

going to have to come round with two cushions, play for pink or blue.

Ebdon hoping that Stevens isn't going to make too many here.

Not got the angle to stay on the black here. So he has to go for the

blue. It's OK so long as he gets a good angle on the blue. That's

perfect. Just looking for the next red. The

ones in the middle of the table will go. Short of pace for that one. So

red to the right centre. Best for the cue ball to be cleaned, so maybe

it wasn't the cleanest of contacts. But he's just not in perfect

position now. Been a tremendous match and well, it's getting near

the winning line. The tension is getting higher and higher. Right

centre... Clean as a whistle. Nice angle on

the blue. Still got a good chance. Looking more and more likely he's

lost this frame. Just blue to go 60 points in front.

So, after this blue, a red and a black... Would be enough to leave

Peter needing a snooker. If after the red he gets a blue... Then he'll

need two reds. 60 points in front, 75 remaining. If

he pots this red and a black, he goes 68 points ahead with only

he pots this red and a black, he left. He is looking at the

scoreboard, he's working it out with his mind. He should roll this red in

and play for the black. No heroics needed from the black. I

just just going to suggest, Clive, as he already lost a frame in this

match, when Peter Ebdon needs snookers, it may be worth the risk

in potting in black and playing a deep screw to open these four reds.

Or maybe, the back red? Or even the red neext to it -- next to it will

give him the extra insurance he needs. Looks as though he may have a

choice. If he pots this red, surely the frame is clinched. And that's

why he didn't have to play the cannon. 69 points in front, only 59

left. 3 snookers required for Peter Ebdon.

So Ebdon knows that he's going to have to win the remaining 3 frames.

Break of 76 will takes Matthew Stevens 16-14 ahead with within one

frame of a place in the final. Obviously, I was under a lot of

pressure. I went to the toilet and something very, very strange

happened in the way back to the Crucible. I walked down the steps,

and all of a sudden, it was like a video running in my mind and I could

see myself shaking his hand, having just beaten him 17-16. I thought,

what was all that about? I was quite shocked to see it happening. Nothing

like that had ever happened to me in my life before, or since. All I can

say is, that certainty flowed through my veins and I felt

convinced I would win the game. Completely miss hit that. I do

believe he was attempting the pot to the right corner. Which was about

three-quarter ball, but he hit it about a quarter-ball.

Well, Matthew, putting this down as if it was a putt at golf. Not this

he wants in the hole, it's this red. He played it in such a way, he had

check side. The only red he could leave or he wouldn't played on this

side of the table, if he played it check side, made the pot more

difficult. Everybody looking on. Wondering

whether Peter Ebdon can stay in this frame. He's got a red in the middle

of the take table that is pottable. Good pot it was. Maybe the fact it

was a shot for nothing, little pressure on it. When you consider

some of the pots he missed, in comparison, that was a lot more

difficult. As so rightly said, Clive,

considering his mistakes, he is still 23 points in front, and under

normal circumstances, you say favourite for this frame. Not saying

he would win it at this visit, but should get a few points more to this

lead. But that was the shot, well, there was pressure. And surely, he

hasn't got away with this. He is struggling, Peter. He is struggling.

And the way the reds are set, Stevens could make it the last

frame. All those hours and hours of the

practice, and tonight, he's not produced. Hard to know what the

reasons are for these situations. He's played so well up to this

semifinal. 12 each at the start of the evening, set up for a grand

stand finishing hard to -- finish, hard to pick the winner. He had his

chances tonight, Peter. Matthew having to play the red in the far

right corner. Pressure on that but in it goes. So he's back in perfect

position. And now one point in front in this

frame. This match is now in his hands.

Well, sure, the reason that he didn't take the near red originally,

was because it wouldn't go, or was very tight.

Well, you would have thought that, wouldn't you? If it had gon a bit

further up with the black, he could have had the one on the right. It

looks to me, Clive, it just goes. It just goes.

Not the easiest black, though, particularly

He's obviously not on the black as he would like. He looks a little bit

agitated. A little shake of the head there. 18 points in front. He needs

the two remaining reds. That required pretty fine judgment.

He can get through to the potting angle, past the other red.

Black and red to secure a place in the final.

Well, Peter is only sit and hope. You got to feel for him.

In way I look at this, it may be worth screwing back to the side

cushion and maybe attempting the right in the far right corner

pocket. The yellow is in the pocket, which would make the pocket look a

little bit big. If he tries to run around, it could go

And that's what he decided to do. He needed it to bounce off the cushion

a bit more than that. He may even play the pot now. Maybe the snooker

behind the pink. Peter will be coming back to the table. It's not a

snooker, I don't think. Should've been tighter behind the

pink. Peter Ebdon looked at the

scoreboard, he can't play the 309 on this red, because he -- play the pot

on this red, because he needs at least pink or black off it. It's a

good safety. It's a good safety shot, is that. He -- play the pot on

this red, because he needs at least pink or black off it. It's a good

safety. It's a good safety shot, is that. If he can, Stevens will want

to drive the red past the green. Just looking at that down the line

there, don't know whether Peter get to the thinnest edge of this

red. But if he could, as you can see, maybe he could, but he'd only

be knocking it to the left corner. And it's not the natural angle

coming off the top cushion. He's going to have to play it with pace

and hope for the best here. He needs a bit of luck.

He needs that red to stop. He's had a bit of luck!

LAUGHS Well, it looked a mound

LAUGHS position. Matthew is of looking at

the pot, clie, and if it had bounced, it would've been a

formality. He is going to take it on. Thin cut, just the red and that

would win the match. Over cut it! Peter looking to see if the green

will pass the brown. It's pretty tight. It's 33 points behind. He

needs at least black or pink or this red.

Well, he played for the black. If he pots the blue, he can only tie.

I think he'll have to play the blue now. Better to tie than to miss the

pink and need snookers. He's got to dig deep now.

Well, I don't know where the yellow is covering part of the pocket. I

can't think of any other reason why Ebdon wouldn't have taken the blue

by now. Well, that could be the only reason. If they misses this pink,

he's out of the championship. Terrific shot. Almost the bravest

shot I have ever seen. That is unbelievable. To play that pink,

knows that if you miss it, you're out... That was incredible. And if

they clears up here, it would rank with all the great clearances we've

seen here at the Crucible Theatre. He keeps checking and checking to

whether this green will pass the brown, I'm in line with it. It only

just goes, but he needs to be perfect on the green. And this looks

perfect. That is exactly where he wanted to be. To

perfect. That is exactly where he that's all he'll have to do and he'd

be on the brown. What a shot on the pink!

Stood over that pink. But now he has an opportunity to close to only one

behind. Well, maybe a bit

absolutely perfect. Still a little bit of work to do with the cue ball.

But he's on the blue. Needs to bounce for the pink. He's

short. He's short of pace. What a shot. We could get the Ebdon

roosh if his goes in. -- the Ebdon roar if this goes in.

Terrific! And a very cool completion of the clearance which brings Ebdon

to only one behind. At 16-14 ahead, and the match was

sewn up, really. It looked like the red was going towards the pocket for

me to pot it and win 17-14. It stayed tight to the cushion and he

potted a fantastic pink. To get on the yellow, which was, to this day,

I think the best shot I have ever seen.

I said a little earlier that Stevens had a reputation of being slightly

shapy clincher of winning -- shaky clincher of winning positions. And

he was in a match winning The black slightly pocketed to the

other corner pocket. There is a theory that a reprieved

man gets a new source of energy. And we may see that syndrome with Ebdon.

APPLAUSE Yes, some vital things happened in

the last frame, and obviously the pink he potted but to clear up like

that, when you've been struggling... It can just give you that little

feeling back. Hold on, I can still produce under pressure. But of

course, if there's another turning point, he was snookered and he hit

the red as hard as he could and it looked like it was going to the

corner pocket. Maybe a little fate is going to play a hand here as

well. If that red hit a bounce in the last frame, just two inches to

the cushion, Matthew would have potted it and he would've been doing

the press conference now. It would be handy for Ebdon to keep

Stevens in his chair for a good few minutes, to allow him to dwell on to

sort of thoughts. They are bound to have occurred to him.

It's a flat back four in the bunch but there's no alternative but to go

into them. APPLAUSE

Not dissimilar to his vital pink in the last frame.

APPLAUSE Different side of the table. Same

result. That's OK. He's on a red to the left

centre, so the black is available in Touching the red closest to the cue

ball, but he's firing away from it, so it's not a problem. If he moves

it on the way back, it's not so it's not a problem. If he moves

problem either. He could have screwed back a

He's just beginning to raise his game.

better. Just pressured back it -- brushed past it, developed in for

the right corner. I'm not saying frame-winning chance, too much

pressure out there and too much at stake. But he's -- got to keep

himself together, composed. But so far, this is the best he's played

this evening on this break. Stevens can see all too clearly the

possibility that Ebdon can win the frame at this vest. Pressure and

all. Yes, I was thinking he would be

thinking of a deciding frame. Thinking that maybe this match

should've been over. That is quite natural. But he's not out of the --

out of it yet. If Peter wins this frame, if he's favourite to do. He

played a loose positional shot, but he has to judge the bounce off the

cushion for the black. He's just I think walking around the table,

trying to compose I say that, he now taking a pressure

ball to the right centre, and they are all pressure at this stage of

the match. Well that just shows you how his

confident has grown. He looked down and -- how his confidence has grown.

He looked down and out to me. He looks very much in it now.

Yes, he is got a new sense of purpose in this stride. He looks

altogether perkier. This black and one more red and we

are almost certain to be in the frame and the decider. -- in the

33th frame and the He didn't play for one of the loose

reds. He shouldn't miss it, but it could have been easier.

It's there! It's there! Well played, Peter Ebdon! Er Ebdon!

Stevens is resigned. To playing a deciding frame. -- 33th frame. By

far and away Peter Ebdon's best break of the night. ANSMIT what a

turnaround. APPLAUSE

If Ebdon does make the century, it would be the 60th of this

championship. Which will break the 1998 record of 59.

That in itself is an indication of the phenomenally high standard in

this year's championship. Playing for the pink and he likes

the pink on the spot. He will want the century and the applause that

goes with it. APPLAUSE

The moment numb now strongly with Ebdon. The question is going to be

whether he can maintain it in the deciding frame.

Stevens was in a match-winning position. But didn't clinch it.

Peter Ebdon's immaculate table clearance is 138 brings the match

level. It's all on the decider. Yes, an immense effort from Ebdon, one of

the most courageous efforts you will ever see, particularly having stared

defeat in the face. And after 10 hours of this match, we were now

into a Saturday night decider. Understandably, that was tense and

cagey early on, but after the opening exchanges, Ebdon emerged

slightly ahead. How would you like this pink in a

deciding frame of a world championship? I bet he'd rather be

playing it than We talked long and hard about Peter

Ebdon being a determined gritty competitor. If you needed any proof,

you got it 16-14, he looked down and out. He

produced a little bit of a magic. And now looks on course. It would be

very difficult to suggest he would win the frame at this visit. But

with those foul points that Matthew gave away... It doesn't leave Peter

with that much to do to build a 60-70-point lead. And that's a big

lead in a deciding frame. Playing for the pink in the middle.

If you overrun it slightly, it's not the best positional shot.

Red to left corner looks a natural angle to come through the gap. And

bounce up onto the pink. Stevens's 38 behind. And wondering

whether he is going to get another shot. The position of the remaining

reds gives him some encouragement that he will.

But it looks at the moment he is going to be at least 50 behind, if

and when he gets back to the table. Peter looking which he can play for.

He could go for the blue. He favoured the blue here, really. If

you get a nice angle on the blue, you could do a lot more things than

off the pink. And that's why he has played it. Been a little bit too

far. But he's in control. I think he may have to play a cannon, though. I

don't think he can just drop onto a red here. I don't think at the

moment there is anything available into the right corner. So he'll

trust a little bit to luck. Can he get any?

You'd settle for that, wouldn't you? A perfect result for Peter Ebdon.

57 points in front. A red and a pink, will put him 64 points in

front. Because of those fouls, still a possible 83 left on the table. So

he still needs... Well, a couple more reds at least. But I think he's

got a red to the right corner. And as I said, if you -- a few moments

ago, he has shown his tremendous competitive instinct. And produced

his best form, certainly, of this evening's session, at just the right

time. APPLAUSE

Those are red. Well, Matthew, are you going to get

another chance? It's down to Peter Ebdon, whether he does. The blue

puts him 70 points in front. The 70 points won't be enough

because there is still 75 left on the table. The pink now and still

one more red needed. Had two chances though. His

preferred option was the one third right of the picture. If he wasn't

on that, he would've had a shot at the one along the cushion. But this

is effectively match ball. APPLAUSE

What a great offer. And what a heartbreak for Matthew Stevens. He

was within a ball of victory at 16-14.

72 in front. Frensively snookered -- comprehensively snookered. It looks

like Ebdon through to the final. Yes, you got to feel for Matthew.

I'm sure he thought he was in the final when he looked as though he

was going to win 17-14. If he misses this red now, think he'll call it a

day. Well, good hit, but he left a chance of a red along the top

cushion. This is a cruel game, snooker. He has a great future,

Matthew. But I don't think in the immediate future he's going to be in

the final of this championship. This man is on, what a performance.

Pulled himself up from his boot laces. He looked down and out to me.

I'm statistic a little bit shocked. 1 shot changes it of course. A

wonderfully courageous pink from his last red. In the 31st frame. Which

he went on the win with a cool clearance. Then came a total

clearance of 138 to level the match. And now Ebdon, barring something

almost unthinkable, is in the final. Yes, considering everything, Matthew

Stevens potted a tremendous ball there, and now he has got to pot

every now. If he misses, he shakes hands and concedes. And that was a

tremendous shot. hands and concedes. And that was a

if he was to get high value hands and concedes. And that was a

say high value colours, because he doesn't necessarily

say high value colours, because he the reds. A possible 59 left on the

table. He could play for the pink here.

The two to admire this young man's courage. What must be going through

his mind. But he's still pulling out the good pots. And another

sensational pot. This on the green would help and he's got one.

50 behind, only 43 left. 2 snookers. Pot this red Pot the black. And then

he can play a snooker. Well, Stevens yesterday lost a frame

from 73 in front. He came to the table 72 behind. Surely, it couldn't

happen that he could snatch frame and match out of the fire.

A little bit careless of Matthew to leave himself using the spider here.

Snooker behind the black is what he wants.

Matthew Stevens it, 30. It's not a snooker.

I'm sure 2 would've been, had he left himself slightly differently on

the red and been able to use a hand bridge, or even the ordinary rest.

Well, he's giving them a lot of thought. It's hard to know why. I'm

sure he can get through to hit this red. If he can't, it would be easy

to come off the baulk cushion with a bit of right-hand side or easy to

swerve slightly. He is 42 points in front. Two

snookers required. Only one if he can get a snooker and a free ball.

That was half a chance, that, to get in behind the yellow.

Rolled the red over the pocket, inviting Stevens to pot it. The

theory being that as soon as the red goes down, Stevens couldn't get a

possible 8 extra points by means of a free ball.

Gentlemen, and he's taken that opportunity now. It's very, very

important here, where he finishes with the cue ball.

Cue ball needs to travel. Not far enough.

It's not there. Tight up behind the brown, possibility.

He went for the red down the cushion a few moments ago, I'm sure this

yellow was worth a try. It's almost tight on the cushion. If he hits the

yellow and the cushion together, you fancies him potting this. Still two

snookers required, 3 if this went in.

Well, there's a little bit of applause, but that can't be the

right shot to play. The green was tight on the top cushion, and you

could not possibly snooker behind it. Now he's brought it on the

table, Matthew has got five colours to snooker behind. Still needs two

snookers but at least there's another option.

I think he is too far away from the yellow to get behind the green this

shot. That would've put Stevens to 3

snookers Ebdon checks the scoreboard. Stevens

needs 3 snookers. It's going to end in disappointment,

a big one. Matthew Stevens, 36 points behind,

only 25 on the table. 3 snookers required. Can't blame him for

trying. But it looks an impossible task.

Tried to get in behind the black. But I think that Stevens needing 3

snookers would probably have thrown the towel in, had it been any frame

other than the world championship semifinal decider.

APPLAUSE A snooker but not a difficult hit.

That is it! A from Peter Ebdon from two down, with

3 to play. Agonising disappointment for Matthew Stevens. Who loses in

the semifinal for the second consecutive year. Peter Ebdon goes

through to the final. Winner by 17 frames to 16. After a Titanic

struggle. In the match, I think I made 17 breaks. So it was like, what

could have been? But, yeah, it was just time. My lasting memory of that

match was how well Matthew played against me. To this day, it's still

a match I can't belief I won. I don't know how I won that match. I

remember Steve Davis describing Peter Ebdon as a high wire artiste.

He would meet and beat Stephen Hendry in the final, in a reversal

of the result six years earlier. He denied Hendry his eighth world

title. He remains the only player ever to

do that.