China Open Daily News - Day Five
We told you in the latest edition of On The Spot that Peter Ebdon oozed class. He told us of his determination to extend his 15-year unbroken run in the top-16. With two events remaining it was looking pretty hopeless, but the class and determination have paid dividends and it now looks like a job done, as Ebbo beat Stephen Hendry to reach the last four in Beijing.
Ebdon will face the giant killer, Stuart Pettman, after the man from Preston beat Graeme Dott comfortably 5-1.
One of the biggest matches ever in China went down to the wire as crowd favourites Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins shared the first eight frames.
The final frame was littered with mistakes but when O'Sullivan created a chance with eight reds left he looked favourite to progress.
Despite a deficit of fourty points, The Rocket had the balls in perfect position. It wasn't to be though as he missed a straight forward black and left Higgins an easy chance to clinch the win.
Welshman, Ryan Day is again in the hunt to lift that elusive first ranking title. It is a monkey on his back created more by the media
than by himself. We have spoken to him and it is not something he is thinking of.
Day is looking focussed on the job in hand each time he goes out. Tonight was no exception as he punished every mistake and whitewashed Shaun Murphy 5-0 in double quick time. He will now face Higgins and the winner must surely fancy they will take the China Open title.
But rest assured, Ebdon and Pettman cannot be written off.
After exiting the tourament yesterday, a few of the players made use of the spare day before travelling home to sample the delights of Beijing's famous Silk Street shopping district.
Snooker fever is burning brighter than the Olympic torch in Beijing right now, and it is hard to escape that Bank
of Beijing sponsor The China Open. In bars and restaurants all across the city there are large screens showing the action from the Student's Gymnasium.
Not that we have been in any bars or reataurants of course!!!
Neil will be back with more news Live from China tomorrow...
