O'Brien succumbs to in-form Ebdon

It was probably too much to ask. Going into the third session of his second round World Championship match at Sheffield yesterday against a flowing Peter Ebdon, 12-4 down and needing to win nine games in succession, any expectation that Fergal O'Brien would stop the former Crucible finalist in full spate was always going to be another episode of the folly of King Canute.

"All the damage was done on Sunday evening," said the Irishman after the match finally ended 13-5. "It was difficult to get a grip on the game. He played very, very solidly. As the frames were going by it was getting harder all the time to get back into it."

Another century break for Ebdon in the final frame, bringing his total to six so far, had O'Brien touting the Englishman along with Ken Doherty as two players who have the talent and current form to win the championship. Of course, only one player can do that as the two are scheduled to meet in the semi-finals assuming they both come through their quarter-final ties in the top half of the draw.

Doherty will now play qualifier Matthew Stevens with the possibility of pairing off with Ebdon in the semi-final. Stevens beat Mark King 13-9 in their second round match yesterday.

"Peter (Ebdon), coming into this tournament is sort of similar to Ken last year," advised O'Brien. "No real form but very strong and fresh in his game.

"Everyone thinks he's playing well but I have a feeling Ken might win it again. I just have the feeling he might do it even though there are a number of players playing really well."

While Doherty steadfastly refuses to look further than his quarter-final match, he does recognise that his run so far has been less taxing than the side of the competition populated by Stephen Hendry, Jimmy White and Ronnie O'Sullivan.

"Every match here is hard. Sure, I could have had it a lot tougher. But there are still all sorts of pressures you have got to deal with. I think everything has gone well for me so far. My game is getting stronger and stronger as I go along, so I'm very pleased.

"I feel my game is a lot better now than it was at this time last year. Mentally I'm stronger and I'm more confident in what I'm doing and what I'm about. I'm more focused than I've ever been and I've learned to concentrate a lot better.

"Stephen (Lee) won five in a row to 10-8 in the last match. But I knew it was there inside me ready to come out. That's what I mean about my confidence and that's why I'm better prepared this year - because I've been through it especially in last year's tournament. So, now I know it's there. I know I can click into a higher gear."

Of all the potential winners at the Crucible, Doherty has received the least media attention following the news frenzy surrounding Jimmy White's renaissance, which has generated something of a nostalgic buzz. The loveable rogue, who won the public's heart after Alex Higgins lost the plot, remains the people's favourite and the media's main focal point.

White, who relaxes by playing cards and drinking beer in the main press hall, has a natural gift for communication and has that indefinable star quality.

When he walks into the room people know he's there simply because they inadvertently react to him. Of all the players, it is a quality that only he possesses.

Doherty's angle continues to be the man who could become the first player in modern snooker history to successfully defend a first world crown.

World Championship (in Sheffield): Second round: P Ebdon (Eng) bt F O'Brien (Irl) 13-5 (Frames scores, Ebdon first: 62-11, 3571, 132 (104)-0, 0-114, 108 (108)-0, 18-72, 84-0, 60-30, 65-1, 71-0, 78-40, 60-43, 102-8, 113 (108)16, 21-55, 71-26, 33-95, 131 (124)-10); R O'Sullivan (Eng) bt A McManus (Sco) 13-4 (Frame scores, O'Sullivan first: 58-50, 83-4, 5560, 66-34, 77-35, 105 (100 break)-8, 69-22, 72-9, 16-77, 100-22, 95-26, 0-88, 77-64, 33-68, 98-0, 64-46, 134 (134 break)-0), M Stevens (Wal) bt M King (Eng) 13-9 (Frames scores, Stevens first: 83-38, 33-57, 0-67, 92-4, 60-67, 63-54, 82-8, 3663, 68-43, 89-16, 75-32, 9-106 (100 break), 26104 (103 breaks), 84-1 19-64, 26-63, 87-26, 74-0, 0-75, 61-46, 136 (100 break)-0, 94-6).