Mehta, the 27-year old from Mumbai, kept his nerve after blowing a 2-0 and 3-1 lead and enjoying a 40-point advantage in the fifth, while Ebdon, ranked 22nd, leveled at 3-3.

However, Mehta, who had beaten No.8 Ricky Walden a fortnight ago in a qualifying event, took the seventh for the match with a brilliant 127, his second century of the day following the 122 in the fourth frame.