Former World Champion notifies bookmakers of potential drop in form

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Former snooker World Champion Peter Ebdon has taken the unusal step of giving an advance warning, believed to be for the benefit of bookmakers that he may be out of form next week in qualification for the Shanghai masters.

The 39-year-old is due to get married this weekend and so has been unable to practice ahead of next week’s match in Sheffield.

"I consider that I will not be in a position to play to the best of my ability," said Ebdon.

"This is down to personal circumstances, including the fact that I am getting re-married in Hungary this weekend.

"Since playing in a recent tournament in Thailand I have not been able to practise, and by the time the qualifiers come around I will not have played for 10 days or more.

"I know just how bad I can be when I don't feel properly prepared as I am the type of player who needs to practice hard in order to play to a reasonable standard.

"As always, I will be doing my utmost to win what is a very important match for me but in truth, my levels of expectation will not be very high."

The statement is thought to be in order to remain onside with both the odds compilers and the snooker authorities, following a number of high profile match fixing allegations, none of which involved Ebdon.