Former world and UK Champion, Peter Ebdon is excited by the prospect of snooker's first-ever ranking event in India and relishes the prospect of taking on home favourite Aditya Mehta in the first round.
The 300,000 pound World Snooker Indian Open will be played in the capital from October 14 to 18 and see the participation of 64 professional players bidding for the title, including the likes of John Higgins, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui.
Ebdon has drawn India's numero uno snooker player Aditya, who has already tasted success this season by winning the gold medal at the World Games in Colombia in August, in his tournament opener.
"I was really pleased for Aditya when he won gold because he has been a great ambassador for Indian snooker," said 2002 Crucible king Ebdon.
"I have practised with him in the past and I know how talented a player he is. I think he will start favourite in our match in Delhi and it will be a nice start for him if he can give a former World Champion a battering in front of his home crowd!"
Talking about another home favourite and eight-time world champion Pankaj Advani, Ebdon said the way the young Indian has adjusted to the snooker world on the Professional circuit shows his tactical awareness.
"Advani has also been a great addition to our tour. He is a really nice lad and I know how good he is because he's beaten me a couple of times. His success in the billiards world is phenomenal and the way he has adjusted to snooker and shown so much tactical awareness is remarkable," he said.
Ebdon played in an invitation event in Delhi back in 1992, losing in the semi-finals to eventual winner Steve Davis.
