PETER Ebdon hailed his victory over John Higgins in the Maplin UK Championship semi-final as "the best win of my career".

The gritty match player, and eighth seed, carved out a 9-7 victory against the Scot at York's Barbican Centre last night in what was arguably the match of the tournament.

The 36-year-old hit two centuries in a match which saw 12 breaks over 60 and looked like going right to the wire.

Ebdon and Higgins were locked at 4-4 following a high class first session which saw the Englishman fire breaks of 97, 76 and 132, while Higgins responded with 83, 82 and 75.

The quality continued into the evening, but the turning point came in the tenth frame when Higgins, leading 5-4 and 67 points ahead, missed a tricky red. Ebdon cleared up to force a re-spotted black and potted it - levelling the match at 5-5 when Higgins had looked certain to take a 6-4 lead.

Ebdon took full advantage and went 6-5 and 8-6 ahead, before sealing the match in a scrappy final frame two games later. He will now meet the winner of today's other semi-final between Graeme Dott and Stephen Hendry.

Ebdon said it had been a "pleasure" to have been involved in such a "high quality match". "I've never been as proud of myself in my entire career. In many ways, I have to rate that as the best win I've ever had," he said.

"This win means so much to me because I have got so much respect for John. He's a wonderful ambassador for the game. You have to play top class when you play John.

"The quality of the match was mind-blowing. I just felt he wouldn't crack and I felt strong in myself that I wouldn't crack either. It was like the irresistible force meeting the immovable object and it was a pleasure to be involved in such a high-quality match."

Ebdon put his great York form down to "working my socks off" but agreed that the 10th frame was the match's crucial juncture.

"It was a massive game (the tenth frame). I was under a lot of pressure to clean up there. I did well," he said.

Higgins said "The turning point was 5-4 and when I was on 67. I don't know how I have not got an easier shot when I went into the little pocket of reds.

"Peter played very well throughout the game. It was a really good game and a really high standard match. My concentration just went out of the window at a crucial time.

"But take nothing away from Peter. He played very well all through the match and thoroughly deserved to win."