SHEFFIELD (England), April 26: Former champion Peter Ebdon completed a storming comeback to beat Stephen Lee 13-9 and reach the quarterfinals of the world championship on Monday but another past winner, Mark Williams, went out.

Ebdon, who had been 8-3 down against Lee, surged back for a trademark gritty victory and then declared: “I’d have to put that down as one of the best wins of my career.

The 2002 champion now faces title holder Ronnie O’Sullivan for a place in the semifinals.

“Ronnie’s a one-off who’s a credit to the game and I love playing him,” Ebdon told reporters. “The man is an absolute genius. Snooker needs Ronnie because he’s such an inspirational character.”

Twice former winner Williams lost a tense final frame decider against Ian McCulloch.

The 33-year-old McCulloch has worked hard on his physical and mental condition and employs a psychologist — a regime that is now paying dividends.

“If that’s what you’ve got to do to be successful, I’ll do it,” said McCulloch. “Wins like that make all the effort worthwhile. I’ve got good people around me and I like to think I’m doing everything right.”

Welshman Williams felt he did little wrong in the match and believes McCulloch could go all the way in the tournament.

“I played well but he was very consistent and punished me whenever I made a mistake,” he said. “If he keeps playing like that, there’s no question he can win it.”

Another Welshman Matthew Stevens reached the quarterfinals after completing a comfortable 13-5 win over Jimmy White.

Stevens needed just a frame to go through when he held a 12-4 lead at the resumption of play.

White won the opening frame of the session with a 68 break but Stevens won the following frame with a break of 69.

Stevens, a losing finalist in 2000, is now preparing to face seven-times champion Stephen Hendry in the last eight.

“You have to beat the best if you want to win the world championship,” he said. “I’ve been keeping fresh by getting to bed early.”

Qualifier Shaun Murphy produced a shock win over 1998 champion John Higgins after leading 9-7 overnight.

He dropped the opening frame but reeled off four on

the trot to book a meeting with six-times champion Steve Davis.

Murphy said his Christian faith had helped him overcome the Scot.

“It gives me something to believe in and trust in,” he said. “I know that, win or lose, whatever happens is in my best interests.”

Result round second(Best of 25)

Peter Ebdon (England) bt Stephen Lee (England) 13-9 (43-76 63-0 7-111 0-78 50-52 6-70 76-69 19-67 76-41 4-76 38-74 101-0 105-0 81-15 72-1 55-18 78-48 57-66 119-23 73-7 51-23 74-0); Shaun Murphy (England) bt John Higgins (Scotland) 13-8 (7-72 9-89 40-63 56-55 0-82 129-0 80-20 79-0 70-43 61-56 0-65 97-0 12-74 97-1 72-6 13-88 38-75 74-29 68-9 79-36 119-0); Matthew Stevens (Wales) bt Jimmy White (England) 13-5 (61-62 83-1 45-70 83-17 80-8 64-20 49-63 76-50 58-30 83-0 68-1 97-0 66-1 18-71 110-13 121-3 36-81 69-1); Ian McCulloch (England) bt Mark Williams (Wales) 13-12 (78-71 0-143 60-42 0-79 30-102 16-115 90-0 68-70 143-0 34-83 87-24 74-34 65-59 116-5 2-77 113-29 24-75 1-84 4-74 1-65 71-26 83-38 66-23 12-105 53-2).—Agencies