Dale battles back to beat Ebdon

Dale won the Shanghai Masters earlier this season

Dominic Dale overcame illness to beat Peter Ebdon in the Malta Cup.

Welshman Dale rushed to the bathroom after four frames to be sick as he fought back from 2-1 down to win 4-2.

He has now won three of his round robin games, while group rival Mark Williams kept his hopes alive by ending those of Graeme Dott with a 4-2 victory.

Shaun Murphy beat Stephen Maguire 4-2 to put him on the edge of the last four while John Higgins fought back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Ali Carter.

"I'm happy with the way I'm playing, it's useful match practice for me," said Higgins. "It was pleasing to draw the match."

Higgins will reach the semi-finals if he wins his last match while Murphy will also make the last four if he beats Stephen Hendry on Friday.

"I played well in patches, but I missed a couple of chances which could have swung the match," said Murphy.

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"But he (Maguire) missed a couple as well, so we both cancelled each other out.

"In reality 3-3 would have been a fair result, but I'm pleased to have come through and won.

"It's the toughest group in the tournament, but if I win my next match I'm definitely through. That's what I'm concentrating on."