The Yorkshireman plays Jimmy White or Stephen Hendry in the semi-final.

Hunter won four frames on the trot after trailing 3-2 as the match descended into a dour struggle.

The turning point came in the seventh frame when Ebdon, with 50 points on the board, missed a pink which allowed Hunter back in to snatch it.

He duly made it 4-3 on the black and then added breaks of 70 and 44 to reach the last four.

Hunter said afterwards he had to keep focused to ensure he became the first player to make the semis.

"I tried to keep my concentration because it was a long match," said the world number 14 from Leeds.

"Peter was quite slow, but that's the way he plays the game while I like to get on with it.

"He seemed to be playing even slower today than he normally does and was bringing me down to his speed."

Hunter anticipates a different proposition in the last four.

He added: "I'd love to play Jimmy at Wembley but also because I've never beaten Hendry.

"It will be a great match between them and I'll definitely be watching."