Ebdon expects tough test at Telford Centre

Former world champion Peter Ebdon admits he has a tough draw to negotiate if he is to land the Pukka-Pies UK Championship crown for a second time.

The 39-year-old lifted the trophy back in 2006, beating Stephen Hendry in the final, to become the ninth player in history to win both the World and UK Championships.

But he faces a difficult task to replicate that triumph at the Telford International Centre today. He starts out against young star Judd Trump, who reached the semi-final of the Premier League, and victory would set him up with a possible second round clash with four-time UK winner Ronnie O'Sullivan.

"Obviously the UK is our second most important tournament and it's an event I'd dearly love to win again," admitted Ebdon.

"But I have got a very tough draw - Judd Trump and then probably Ronnie O'Sullivan in round two. It doesn't really get much tougher than that.

"I've had some tough draws already this season, but I do tend to play well against the game's top players because I know I'm going to have to pull out a little bit more."

Ebdon is now back living in Northamptonshire after a spell out in Dubai, but he has been spending his days leading up to the tournament practising in Sheffield.

"Most of my time is spent up at the World Snooker Academy at the English Institute of Sport. There are lots of good players to practise against," said Ebdon.

"I've had a few weeks to get myself spot on and I'm hitting the ball well in practice."

Ebdon has dropped to 19th place in the provisional rankings and admits his 16-year run as a world top-16 player could be under threat.

"Perhaps it's my time to drop out," he said. "I hope not because I would love very much to stay in there and it's one of my long-term goals to be in the top 16 for a very long time.

"There are some very high-class players around and it's not easy. I think there's every chance I will pull something out by the end of the season and do enough to stay in the top 16.

"But I wouldn't really be content with that because I want to get back in the top eight, but that might not be possible this season."

First round: Murphy leads Greene 5-3; Williams bt Dott 9-2; Maguire leads Holt 6-4; King leads Hamilton 7-2.