Snooker:Matthew Stevens edged ahead of Northern Ireland's Mark Allen in a tight World Championship first-round tussle at the Crucible in Sheffield last night.
Stevens won the final frame of the evening - just before 11pm - to open a 5-4 lead over the Antrim cueman. It was a see-saw battle with both players edging in front at times by neither was ever able to open a two-frame lead during the session.
Allen managed breaks of 99, 91 and 86 but many other frames were long, drawn-out affairs, with former finalist Stevens able to win the majority despite being below his best.
The pair will resume their clash this evening. The winner will meet Barry Hawkins in the second round.
Former champion Peter Ebdon fell at the first hurdle to Stuart Bingham. Ebdon, champion at the Crucible in 2002, went down 10-8 to Bingham after a grinding encounter.
In a match which did not feature a single century break, Bingham won the final four frames to turn an 8-6 deficit into victory and a second-round clash with Ding Junhui.
Bingham had resumed with a 5-4 lead from the first session but Ebdon soon got on top in some lengthy exchanges.
The tactical master, making his 20th consecutive appearance in the tournament, looked good for a place in the last 16 when he moved 8-6 ahead but Bingham allowed him just one red in the next two frames.
Bingham, best known for shocking Stephen Hendry in the first round here back in 2000, took the next before Ebdon missed a crucial black when a final-frame decider looked likely.
Bingham made him pay, Ebdon eventually offering his hand when needing snookers.