Peter Ebdon (Eng) v Jamie Cope (Eng)

For me, this ranks as one of the best pairings in the first round draw as it pits together one of the Crucible’s real specialists against a player who has the makings of being a contender in this tournament in years to come.

Peter Ebdon is now 38 years old and his receding hairline provides visual evidence of how long ago it was when, complete with ponytail, he made a debut to remember in Sheffield by defeating Steve Davis in the first round.

That memorable first appearance was some sixteen years ago and Ebdon has enjoyed his visits to South Yorkshire ever since, famously winning the world title in a deciding frame victory over Stephen Hendry in 2002 and also appearing in two other finals a decade apart.

Ebdon is not one of snooker’s more popular characters due to some of his fist pumping histrionics when victorious and also because in the time he takes his shot, you might expect to see a tortoise run 100 metres.

OK, this is a hyperbolic statement, but only just.

It is perhaps because of this that Ebdon has not always received the credit he deserves. In the longer match formats, there are very fewer players who are more effective at carrying out a game plan or who rise to the big match occasion. That makes Ebdon a dangerous opponent in this arena.

Since Ebdon swapped cold winters in England for the warmer climes of Dubai three years ago, it has resulted in him focusing specifically on the big tournaments in the season.

This saw him reach the final in Sheffield in 2006, after a controversial but effective victory against Ronnie O’ Sullivan in the last eight, and then the following season he won the UK Championship in York by defeating John Higgins in the final, which was only his second ranking tournament success since winning the world crown five years earlier.

Ebdon’s defence of that tournament ended early so that would suggest most of his energies for this season are focused on this fortnight.

Jamie Cope’s breakthrough season came last season when he made it to two ranking tournament finals, ultimately losing them both.

He has found life a little harder this time around but it is noteworthy that his best showing this season came in the UK Championship when he enjoyed a famous victory over world champion Higgins before being thrashed 9-1 by O’ Sullivan in the following round.

Cope has no need to feel ashamed by that result though as O’ Sullivan would have beaten most players by a similar scoreline that day such was his level of performance on the day.

If Cope produces the kind of snooker that saw him overpower Higgins in the previous round in Telford, then he will provide a very stiff test to Ebdon.

If Cope has an Achilles heel at the moment, however, it is that he tends to be too bold in his shot selection and can sometimes take on pots that more seasoned professionals would pass up.

Ebdon recently edged Cope out in a match in the China Open and if Cope is to reverse that form here, he will need to be more disciplined in going for his shots.

I expect Cope to push Ebdon all the way, but Ebdon’s nous and experience should prove enough to see him through to a war of attrition with Selby in round two. Prediction: Ebdon 10-8 Cope