Hendry defeats Allen in thriller

888.com WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP
Dates: Sat 19 April to Mon 5 May Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC Two, BBCi and the BBC Sport website; listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Hendry's experience proved vital at The Crucible

Seven-time champion Stephen Hendry bounced back from a 6-3 deficit to beat qualifier Mark Allen 10-9 in a first-round thriller at The Crucible.

Hendry took the first three frames of the final session to level at 6-6 before his 22-year-old opponent took the 13th and 14th, with an 89 break.

The 39-year-old veteran made it 8-7 with a 65 before Allen put himself within one frame of victory with a 55.

But Hendry took the next two before scoring 72 in the final-frame decider.

The Scot, who lost 9-4 to Allen in the UK Championship in December, will play either China's Ding Junhui or Hong Kong's Marco Fu in last 16.

Hendry said he was delighted with his performance.

"It's probably the greatest first round match I've ever won in all the years I've been coming here," said the Scot, who pumped his fist at the television cameras after the win.

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Replay: Hendry through after thriller

"I was up against it the whole time, I felt outplayed a lot of the time and just hung in there basically and refused to go down.

"I've got to take confidence from a win like this, to be up against it all the way and come through in the end, and to win the last frame in style in one visit is very pleasing."

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In contrast, Allen was in tears as he reflected on a wasted opportunity in the 10th frame.

"That gave Stephen a lot of a confidence," he said. "If I had gone 7-3 ahead it would have been different and maybe I could have relaxed a little bit.

"I thought I played the better snooker but I had my chance in the last frame and didn't take it.

"The way Stephen took the last frame shows what he is still capable of and it shows how experience matters at The Crucible.

"A lot of players would have crumbled in that last frame but he played a perfect frame."