Jimmy White denied Peter Ebdon a chance to win back-to-back ranking titles with a famous win at the Daily Record Players Championship tonight.
White, currently playing his best snooker for years, defeated 2002 world champion Peter Ebdon 6-5 in Glasgow. The Whirlwind has become a bogey player for the world number seven from Wellingborough, having beaten him in the last two Wembley Masters.
This latest win though was only achieved after a four-hour struggle when Ebdon was poised to reach his second successive final. But after taking a 5-3 lead and not allowing White to pot a ball for two frames, he could not put the finishing touches to his performance.
White knocked in breaks of 60 and 40 to force a decider and eventually doubled the final green and cleared to pink for a dramatic victory in the opening semi-final.
The 41-year-old Londoner now plays Paul Hunter or Ken Doherty for a place in tomorrow's best-of-17-frame final. It will be White's second final of the campaign as he tries to clinch his first ranking title since the 1992 UK Championship.
"This match would have taken a lot out of me had I lost," said White, whose odds on becoming world champion for the first time are shortening with every victory," said White.
"But I'm buzzing. My top 16 ranking was my priority when I cam here. The way things are going I'll probably be number one if I win the world championship.
"I haven't got many doubles this week so I just thought I would go for it," added White, describing his make-or-break shot. "As soon as I hit it the crowd started screaming so I knew it was in. Peter must be gutted.
"But he won the last tournament so hopefully it's my turn now," added White, beaten by Glaswegian youngster Stephen Maguire in last month's European Open final in Malta.
Ebdon had been trying to become only the 10th player to win back-to-back ranking titles. He looked in good shape to at least make his second successive final when he shrugged off breaks of 62 and 104 from White to lead 5-3.
The highlight of his recovery was a 144 total clearance in frame five - the second highest of the championship and one behind Ken Doherty's 145.
He also made 77, 68 and 71 to lead 5-3 before errors crept into his game. Ebdon said: "I was a little unfortunate with a couple of shots but I've had a good week. "There is a very fine line at this level and Jimmy played well. But I'm also one of the form players who will be going to Sheffield."