Dott, a 28-year-old from Larkhall, was in danger of suffering the worst collapse in the annals of a sport where defeat is often snatched from the jaws of victory, but, delving deep, the pencil-thin Scot dramatically prevailed 18-14 at 12.50am.

Having lost all five of his previous meetings with Ebdon and all four finals in which he has appeared during a journeyman professional career that began in 1994, Dott finally hit the jackpot.

He collected a first prize of £200,000 and had the priceless satisfaction of knowing that when faced with the ultimate test of character, he passed with flying colours to overcome a rival with almost obsessive will.

Eight frames ahead at his zenith, Dott was rocking as Ebdon fought back to trail only 16-14. The 31st frame was slipping away as well until Dott, 60 points adrift, stroked in a plant to launch the 68 clearance that enabled him to plunder 17-14 on the black.

As the last ball of Dott’s tide-turning effort fell into the top corner pocket the clock read 12.21am, ensuring that the momentous 1985 final between Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis was no longer the record Crucible denouement.

Ebdon’s huge momentum was punctured and 30 minutes later Dott was kissing the famous trophy, first awarded in 1927, after battling through a closing frame full of twists and turns as Ebdon’s rearguard action proved insufficient.

“At one stage I felt absolutely gone but I decided to quicken my pace to break out of it. I’d have been happy to win any tournament after going winless for so many years, so to break through here is a dream come true,” Dott said.

If the drama of the occasion was not enough — Dott threatening to collapse, Ebdon surging back against all the odds — they also became embroiled in the lengthiest frame in televised snooker history.

As Ebdon fought back from a seemingly hopeless 15-7 deficit entering the concluding session, Dott grew increasingly nervy and the 27th frame, in which the balls ran extremely awkwardly, dragged on for 74 minutes.

That shattered the 69 minutes Crucible record set by Cliff Thorburn and Doug Mountjoy in 1980 and equalled by Steve Davis and Tony Meo 11 years later.

It was also one minute longer than the deciding frame of the 1989 World Team Cup when Davis, representing England, edged Dene O’Kane, of New Zealand but playing for the Rest of the World, in a thriller of sorts.

Dott was presented with numerous chances to win it but, with his brain in a whirl and his cue arm tight as a drum, missed the last red and the green before Ebdon, an iron man in such situations, cleared the colours to steal it on the black.

The next frame, in stark contrast, flashed by in only 11 minutes — the shortest of the marathon match — as Ebdon, by now tasting blood, constructed an 84 break to extend his winning streak to six and reduce his arrears to 15-13.

Dott looked set to mentally implode but his 31st frame clearance transformed his fortunes. “That’s probably the best break I’ve ever made. I don’t know where it came from,” Dott said.

Stepping on to the Crucible stage for the most important night of his life, Dott was in control. However, Ebdon’s renowned fighting qualities came to the fore and the 2002 world champion cussedly hung in the match to reignite realistic hope.

The 24th frame was especially harmful to Dott’s state of mind. On a 54 break and within a handful of pots of 16-8, he unforgivably overcut a routine black off its spot and Ebdon cleared up.

Ebdon, who in the previous frame had constructed a 117 break, was re-energised, but Dott came good when it mattered most.

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