Local interest in the 2007 Malta Cup came to an end last night. John Parrott, the 1991 world champion, beat Tony Drago 5-4 in a tense second qualifying round match at the Hilton Portomaso Conference Centre.
The 42 year-old Parrott required all his experience to hold out the bold effort of the Maltese player to set up a third and final qualifying round match against Michael Holt tonight. The winner will then play Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last 32.
Drago was seeking revenge on Parrott as the last time these two players met in Malta was in 1994 when the Liverpool player beat Drago 7-6 in the Malta Grand Prix final.
Drago looked nervous at the start and paid dearly for missing some easy shots to hand the opening frame to Parrott.
The Valletta-born player regrouped in the second frame and aided by some solid defensive play he levelled the match by taking it 72-28.
Parrott regained the lead, winning the third with a break of 56 and looked set to go into the interval 3-1 up but missed a black in the centre pocket to let Drago back in and level the match at two-all.
Parrott, winner of nine ranking events, in his career, looked better after the restart and moved just one frame of victory by taking the next two frames with runs of 99 and 56.
Drago was not finished yet, though. He put the tension aside and won the next two frames to force a decider to the great approval of the home crowd.
But Parrott kept hold of his nerves to win the decider 58-16 and claim his eighth success over Drago from 12 matches. Parrot beat Drago four times after a decisive frame.
Peter Ebdon kept his Malta Cup campaign intact with a tremendous fight-back against David Roe.
The UK Champion must have been planning his flight home when he trailed world no 56 Roe 4-1. The Derby cueman dominated the early stages with top breaks of 63 and 58.
But Ebdon launched a typically determined recovery and won the last four frames for the loss of just 39 points to secure a 5-4 success. A match-winning 88 in the decider was the highest break of the contest.
World no. 7 Ebdon goes through to the last 16, where he will face Stephen Maguire who beat Ding Junhui 5-2.
"I didn't really feel as if I was in the match until it went 4-2, then I felt some adrenaline," said Ebdon. "I got going just in time and I'm very pleased to win.
"These best-of-nine games are very tough and you have to play well to beat any opponent these days. All you can do is prepare yourself as well as possible and try to take your chances."
Holder Doherty through
Defending champion Ken Doherty also had a tricky tie against Nigel Bond but progressed 5-3.
The Dubliner led 3-0 before Bond pulled two frames back. A superb 134 total clearance made it 4-2 to Doherty and he clinched victory with a 67 in frame eight.
"Nigel is a dangerous opponent and there's always pressure on these first round matches so I'm delighted to get through and build a bit of momentum," said the world no. 2.
"I don't feel any extra pressure as defending champion because I love coming here and I've been very successful having won three tournaments in Malta.
"The people are very hospitable and the crowds are noisy and passionate which is how I like it. It's a great hotel and venue, one of the best we come to."
Doherty will now face Andrew Higginson.
Higginson, is enjoying the best run of his career. Having won four qualifying matches and beaten wild card Simon Zammit, he edged out snooker legend Steve Davis 5-4.
Results: Doherty bt Bond 5-3; Higginson bt Davis 5-4; Ebdon bt Roe 5-4; Parrott bt Drago 5-4; Maguire bt Ding 5-2.
Today's matches: 4 p.m. S. Hendry vs R. Milkins; N. Robertson vs M. Campbell; S. Murphy vs R. Walden. 8 p.m. M. Holt vs J. Parrott; A. Carter vs R. Lawler; J. Higgins vs M. Fu.