Peter Ebdon maintained his two-frame lead over Matthew Stevens at the end of the second session of their world championship semi-final today.
The match resumed with England's Ebdon leading 5-3, and he moved four frames ahead following breaks of 97 and 127. But after trailing 8-4 at the interval, Stevens rallied to take the next three frames.
The Welshman was on course to win the last frame and level the match, but he ran out of position after compiling a 73 break. Ebdon claimed the two snookers he required and produced a 36 clearance to edge the frame 75-73 and finish 9-7 ahead.
In the other semi-final, Stephen Hendry produced a vintage performance to take a 9-7 lead over defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan enjoyed a 5-3 lead at the resumption, but Hendry responded superbly to take a two-frame advantage going into the final session.
The 33-year-old Scot, holder of a record seven world titles, opened with a break of 125. A 122 break in the 12th frame put him level at 6-6 and he ended the session with a third century to prevent O'Sullivan making it all-square.
Hendry, whose last world title came three years ago, looked fiercely determined to respond in the best way possible to critical comments made by O'Sullivan in the build up to the match.
PA