Snooker: Michie beats holder: Ebdon sent packing in upset

JIMMY MICHIE defeated the holder Peter Ebdon 5-3 on a night of upsets at the Skoda Grand Prix in Derby last night.

'If I play like that I can win the tournament,' Michie, 23, from Pontefract, said. 'This season I've started to make something of a breakthrough because previously I had a lifestyle like a bit of a mad man. I enjoyed a few drinks and went nightclubbing before matches. But I realise now that doesn't work.'

Michie, the world No 76, deserved his success. He trailed 1-0 and then again at 3-2, but strung together three frames in a row with breaks of 78, 90 and 83. In losing the last three frames, the Wellingborough-based Ebdon totalled just 19 points.

Michie's reward for reaching the quarter-finals is a guaranteed cheque for pounds 9,050 which is over pounds 3,000 more than he earned in the whole of last season. There is the prospect of an even bigger pay-day should he beat Ebdon's stablemate, Joe Swail, or the Liverpudlian rookie, Wayne Brown, tomorrow afternoon.

The 19-year-old Scot, John Higgins, is also through, having beaten the world No 3, James Wattana, 5-3. Higgins now plays the second favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan.