Robertson falls to shock Shanghai exit
September 08, 2010 13:56:52 UK
World champion Neil Robertson has fallen to a shock early exit in the Shanghai Masters as Peter Ebdon prevailed 5-4 in a scrappy first-round match.
Ebdon had made the unusual action in issuing a statement before Augusts qualifying event playing down his chances of even reaching the main draw but, having hammered Michael White 5-1 on that occasion, he went on to reach the second round with today's victory.
But the match itself did little to contradict his prediction, littered as it was with fouls and missed pots.
The dogged Ebdon's renowned safety game eventually saw him through, though he required a number of chances to get over the line. Even having reached 4-4, he made hard work of winning the final frame.
He made only eight from his first chance after forcing Robertson into a risky containing safety, and then missed an easy black when 44-1 up to hand Robertson a chance of his own. But the Australian missed an equally routine pink and Ebdon finally staggered over the line with a break of 62.
In an even more untidy encounter, Jamie Cope beat six-times Crucible winner Steve Davis 5-3.
The match, which featured neither a 50 break nor a frame score above 100 for either player, was settled by a run of 27 from the Stoke player to win frame eight.
Dave Harold could not add to the Potteries contingent in the second round as he lost to Ali Carter by the same 5-3 scoreline. 'The Captain' rose above the general lethargy encircling the session, knocking in three half-centuries including a top score of 77.
Chinese wildcard Mei Xi Wen was eliminated 5-2 by Mark Selby but provided some fleeting cheer for the home faithful with a break of 99, the best of the morning.
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