Ali Carter finally came out on top with a really dramatic 10-9 victory over Barry Hawkins at the Crucible.
Carter wins controversial match, Swail breezes past Lee.
Ali Carter finally came out on top with a dramatic 10-9 Crucible victory over Barry Hawkins in a first ruond match that lasted three sessions and seven-and-a-half hours in total.
Hawkins had trailed 7-4 overnight but hit back in the afternoon to make it 7-6, before Carter gathered himself to edge on the verge of victory at 9-6.
However, Hawkins hit back once more and drew back to 9-6 when the match was controversially stopped at 6,35pm as the evening session had to get underway at the Crucible.
Hawkins was clearly upset as he was on a roll and did not appreciate having to wait until evening table became available.
When the match finally resumed for just the single, deciding frame, Hawkins had lost his momentum and a scrappy one went to Carter as he booked his place in the second round.
"I was devastated to be honest. I couldn't believe they pulled us off," said Hawkins.
"After all that hard work to pull us off at 9-9 with half an hour to spare, I was gutted. I had the right hump.
"I had the momentum and it was a big difference. I suppose they have their rules but I think it was a bit harsh. I am sure people would have understand waiting an extra 20 minutes when it means so much to both of us."
Carter delight
Carter, who now plays Dave Harold or Shaun Murphy in the second round, was delighted with the break in play.
"I'm delighted to get through," he said.
"At 9-9 it was to my advantage to get called off, Barry had the momentum. I wasn't aware of the time because I don't wear a watch when I play. I couldn't believe it and that was probably someone looking down on me.
"During the break, in all fairness I thought I'd lost but I had to keep telling myself 'You have to go and play one frame and score more points than him."'
Ebdon fight
Peter Ebdon won another late-night thriller at the Crucible, as he took the final-frame decider to beat brave debutant Jamie Cope 10-9.
Cope led the 2002 champion 7-6 early on but Ebdon had soon turned the tables to lead 8-7, only for the Crucible debutant to show his nerve with a 101 levelling again at 8-8.
Ebdon again edged in front but once more Cope shrugged off the pressure to force a deciding frame as the evening wore on in Sheffield.
The final frame summed up the match as a whole with Cope in front, then Ebdon hitting back, before eventually a break of 54 got the more experienced cueman in front.
Cope fought on with just the colours left but and needing a snooker, but Ebdon fired hom the pink to clinch the match.
Joe Swail booked his place in the second round with a comfortable 10-4 success of Stephen Lee, who could not recover from trailing 7-2 overnight.
Northern Irishman Swail increased his lead to 9-3 before Lee eventually got a frame on the board after Swail missed a pink off its spot.
Just one frame was needed after the mid-session interval for Swail to seal his passage into the second round.
Seven-time Crucible champion could be on his way out after trailing youngster Mark Allen 6-3 after the first session of their match.
22-year-old Northern Irishman Allen now needs just four more frames when their match restarts on Monday to clinch a huge scalp along with a second round berth.
