Ebdon through, Rocket in danger

Snooker: Peter Ebdon wrapped up a quarter-final place with a session to spare while Ronnie O'Sullivan struggled at the 888

Snooker: Peter Ebdon wrapped up a quarter-final place with a session to spare while Ronnie O'Sullivan struggled at the 888.com World Championship at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre today.

Dubai-based Ebdon, winner of the title in 2002, took every frame of the second session to complete a 13-2 victory over David Gray and will meet defending champion Shaun Murphy in the last eight.

But tournament favourite O'Sullivan is in danger of becoming another shock early casualty as he trails 9-7 to Welsh qualifier Ryan Day going into tonight's conclusion.

Day held 'The Rocket' to 4-4 yesterday and had looked far from overawed by his task, clearly encouraged by his 10-3 rout of Joe Perry in the opening round.

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It looked as though the world number one might pull away when he took today's first two frames, but the 26-year-old from Bridgend hit back to lead 7-6 thanks to breaks of 104 and 80.

O'Sullivan levelled it up again, but then a large slice of luck helped Day regain the advantage.
In escaping from a snooker, the world number 32 fluked the yellow and went on to clear the rest of the colours to the pink to go 8-7 up.

An early 50-point cushion then proved decisive as Day moved 9-7 ahead, leaving O'Sullivan with plenty to think about before the resumption this evening.

Dubliner Ken Doherty has currently locked horns with Matthew Stevens at 8-8.