Ebdon turned professional in 1991. He beat Steve Davis 10–4 in the first round of the 1992 World Championship and went on to reach the quarter-finals of the event, losing 7–13 to a resurgent Terry Griffiths. This earned him the WPBSA Young Player of the Year award. His first ranking title was the 1993 Grand Prix. He climbed the rankings rapidly to reach a career-highest position of number three in 1996; he again reached world number three status at the close of the 2002 season.