PETER Ebdon produced a characteristically grinding, tenacious display to beat Stephen Lee 4-1 in the opening round of the Brazilian Masters.

The match rekindled memories of a now-resolved period of personal animosity between the two which began during the second round of the 2001 World Championship. Ebdon won the encounter 13-12, but began dancing and shouting when Lee still had a chance of victory with snookers.

Ebdon came into the game facing the prospect of dropping out of the top 16, having failed to win a ranking match all season, and despite this being a non-ranking event, a win would have boosted his confidence.

He took a nervous opening frame on his third break-building visit to the table, making 41 before returning to add 12. However, it was clear from early on that both players were struggling to adapt to a table that was playing far more slowly than is the modern-day norm.

Lee started the second frame with a break of 50, but Ebdon was only able to score 27 when he missed a red on the cushion with the rest, and the Trowbridge potter returned with breaks of 16 and 27 to level the match.

This was to prove a rare glimpse of the old Stephen Lee, who was one of the world’s most feared players during the late 1990s and early 2000s, but the 36-year-old has failed to win a televised tournament since the 2006 Welsh Open.

Ebdon took the next two frames with breaks of 39 and 45, but the overall standard was disappointing, with neither player showing signs of a return to form.

The 2002 World Champion, who now resides in Hungary, managed an impressive long yellow on his way to a match-winning break of 37, and will play Mark Selby in the quarter-finals.