Ronnie books Pokerstars.com Masters Semi Place
Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Peter Ebdon 6-3 to be the first man through to the semi finals of the 2010 Pokerstars.com Masters at Wembley
O'Sullivan was quick out of the blocks today, unlike his first match against Neil Robertson, when he had to fight back from 3-0 down.
Although Ebdon had the first two scoring opportunities in the first frame, he only accumulated 34 points and O'Sullivan pounced on an opening to make a peerless 92.
It was a similar story in the next two frames. Each time Ebdon got the first chance but couldn't capitalise and O'Sullivan made 53 and 74 to open a 3-0 lead.
The fourth frame could have gone Ebdon's way, but again he missed red in the balls and although this time it took a couple of visits, O'Sullivan duly mopped up to lead 4-0 at the interval.
On the resumption it became 'must win' time for Ebdon and he dug very deep in the fifth to control the frame after O'Sullivan missed a red down the rail on 29. Ebdon responded with 34 but ultimately the frame hinged on the last red. Ebdon attempted it at pace into the yellow pocket, it rebounded ran the full lenght of the table, and back again, and dropped back into the yellow pocket. Definitely a candidate for fluke of the season! And it won him the frame.
O'Sullivan opened the sixth with a run of 54 but missed. Ebdon trailed by 43 with 43 on. He laid and got two snookers and a free ball and produced a vital 38 clearance to trail only 4-2.
Again O'Sullivan started the frame well, with 53, but he lost position to give Ebdon a lifeline. He cracked in a great red but then over cut a red and the defending champion took the frame to lead 5-2.
An uncharacteristic missed black from the spot by O'Sullivan gave Ebdon a chance in the eighth frame. He only mustered 37 before missing a red, but it didn't cost him and he clung on to take the frame and keep a toe hold in the match.
Ebdon was unfortunate in frame nine. He opened brightly with a run of 32, but stuck on the reds when splitting the pack and had to play safe.
But not that safe as O'Sullivan fired in a brilliant long red and cleared up with a brilliant 106 to book his semi final place, where he now awaits the winner of Mark Williams or Shaun Murphy.
As usual O'Sullivan was downbeat about his performance after the match.
"I missed a few balls. Peter could have won, but he missed balls too.
"It's just pot luck whether the long balls go in, but if you hit a few good shots then you get a bit of confidence going.
O'Sullivan rarely views his own performances with the same enthusiasm as his fans and he said "I can only give you my opinion on how I see my game. It's my assessment.
"At 4-0 up I wasn't playing so great. My mind wandered a bit. Then at 4-2 the adrenaline kicked in again, but I don't want to rely on situations like that."
