Pre-tournament favourite Peter Ebdon was an early casualty tonight in the Wyldecrest World Seniors’ Championship at Bradford’s Cedar Court Hotel.

The 9-4 shot didn’t even make it into tomorrow's quarter-finals, falling 2-0 to qualifier Nigel Bond.

Of course, best-of-three frame matches are a lottery, and either player could have won the first, but former World Championship runner-up Bond certainly deserved the second frame after a break of 52.

Ebdon, who only became 40 – the minimum age – this summer, said: “The table was excellent – in fact I played two safety shots and they went five or six feet past where I intended them to go.

“It was hot out there, and I was sitting under a spotlight, but Nigel played well.

“It was disappointing not to go through but I have enjoyed my time here and I am delighted that I have been able to introduce Alfie, a personal friend of mine, to sponsoring tournament snooker. I hope the tournament becomes a fixture in the calendar – it is a great concept – and that I can come back next year and do better.”

Bond, who played three matches in qualifying at Cue Gardens in May to earn the right to play last night, said: “It is great to get through to the weekend proper.

“The first frame could have gone either way but I played with a bit of fluency in the second in making that break.

“The thing with these short matches is that you have to start playing straightaway.”

Bond kicks off tomorrow's schedule against former world champion Ken Doherty at 11am, but says playing morning matches are no problem.

“I am used to the school run,” laughed the Derbyshire man, who is 45 on November 15.

Ebdon got in first in the opening frame with a 26, Bond taking the lead with a 37.

The 2002 world champion missed a brown into a centre pocket but still the frame see-sawed before Bond cut the black in to take it 66-57, and with Ebdon fouling on the break-off, Bond took the second 98-0 with a 33 and a 52.