Ebdon races into final

The world number nine had done little this season to suggest he was coming into form ahead of this month's World Championship but he was utterly dominant in Saturday's semi-final.

Both players had defeated Scottish opponents in Friday's last-eight clashes, with the unfancied Pettman's 5-2 defeat of Graeme Dott a particular surprise, given the 33-year-old had never previously gone beyond the final 16 in a ranking event.

Ebdon belied his ponderous reputation to open the match with a quickfire century break after Pettman's opening effort stalled at 10.

The second frame was a far cagier affair with both players failing to impose themselves before Pettman, the world number 62, amassed 35.

However, Ebdon responded with 57 to leave his opponent requiring snookers, and he was able to hang on under pressure and double his advantage.

Pettman hit back in frame three when, after a series of scrappy exchanges, the 2002 world champion, requiring a snooker, potted the white and conceded.

Ebdon, who is now based in Dubai, raced away with the fourth frame and then extended his lead to 4-1 when Pettman left a crucial red in the jaws of the pocket when well placed to clear up.

The sixth could have gone either way and featured a sensational shot from Ebdon, who came off all four pockets to nudge a red after he was comprehensively snookered.

Eventually, Pettman was left needing only a handful of colours to win before stalling on brown, allowing his opponent to steal in and move within a whisker of victory. And the match was sealed when Ebdon, well ahead in the seventh, left Pettman snookered behind a black - prompting the concession.