The Force is looking strong on the Waterfront baize

Day four
Eurosport 1, 1pm Thursday

Peter Ebdon looks as if he may his game head on in the Northern Ireland Open this week and can still be mighty hard to beat when he hits form.

Ebdon has been made outsider to defeat Mark Davis in round three in Belfast after Davis's 4-1 victory over Luo Honghao.

But the 2002 world champ­ion’s wins over Patrick Wallace (4-0) and Lee Walker (4-3) suggest the Force may be gathering a head of steam in his quest for a tenth world-ranking title.

Local hero Joe Swail – there would not be a more popular winner of the trophy at the Waterfront venue – can be considered against Eden Sharav.

Swail has already seen off Luke Simmonds and Nigel Bond. He may have to find a shade more to deny Sharav, who has hit a tidy spot of form, but there have been few better match-players down the years than the Outlaw.

Gary Wilson also has claims against Luca Brecel but the bookmakers have already factored the Geordie's fine touch into his price.

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P Ebdon
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