PETER Ebdon believes anyone who has written off Stephen Hendry's chance of an eighth world title is "deluded."
Hendry was a 33/1 outsider before the start of the 888.com World Championship in Sheffield and admitted the bookmakers could not be bla
med for offering such generous odds given his recent form.
But after a thrilling 10-9 victory over Mark Allen in the opening round, Hendry thrashed Chinese superstar Ding Junhui 13-7 in the last 16 and takes on Wales' Ryan Day in the quarter-finals tomorrow with renewed confidence and a genuine chance for a first Crucible crown since 1999.
"Stephen Hendry is the greatest player in history," said 2002 champion Ebdon, who faces Ali Carter in the last eight at the same time as Hendry takes on Day.
"He is an absolute legend, the man is a machine. He's got more experience than anybody here. He'll be really fired up because people are saying he can't win this. That is absolute nonsense.
"In my career I've never played anybody with so much bottle, so much class, so much determination. That man's got everything.
"Is he a genuine contender? Of course he is. People who don't consider Stephen a title contender this year are deluded. He just oozes class. His age (39] is no barrier."
Ebdon is in the opposite half of the draw to Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan, with Scotland's Stephen Maguire his most likely opponent in a possible semi-final.
If the in-form Scot gets past Australian Neil Robertson in the second round he will face either Stuart Bingham or Joe Perry in the quarter-finals.
"I've given myself a chance to play well, if you keep winning you can't really do any more than that," added Ebdon, who beat Jamie Cope 10-9 in the first round and Mark King 13-9 in the last 16.
"I'm sure someone will play very well against me, and hopefully I'll be able to step up."
The full article contains 340 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
