Relieved Hendry survives brilliant Stevens fightback

SIX-TIME winner Stephen Hendry avoided rewriting the record books for all the wrong reasons at the SAGA Insurance Masters yesterday afternoon.

The Scot came close to becoming the first person to ever lose a Masters match having led 5-0.

But in a final-frame decider with Welshman Matthew Stevens, the 38-year-old held his frayed nerves.

It meant he booked a showdown with Shaun Murphy in tomorrow’s quarter-finals.

Hendry said: “I would have been disappointed to lose, but from 5-0 to 5-5 I had precious little to play at.

Hendry was the better starter and in quick time raced into a commanding 5-0 lead.

The seven-time world champion won a scrappy opening frame and then pinched the second, a 64 run secured the third frame, before a 80 break made it 4-0. It was soon 5-0 as Stevens staged his comeback.

Hendry continued: “I was just delighted to get a couple of decent chances in the last frame. I had a pretty decent 40-odd break to win, and the balls went perfect.”

Stevens was disappointed not to have edged his way into the last eight, but took plenty of positives.

The world number 14 compiled breaks of 103, 88, 103 and 61 to leave last month’s Maplin UK Championship runner-up rooted to his seat at the 4,500 capacity Arena.

However, with his back against the wall and facing the first 5-0 comeback in Masters history, the gutsy Perthshire potter survived to fight another day.

Meanwhile, Shaun Murphy maintained his 100% unbeaten record against Steve Davis to send the five-times champion crashing out at the Wembley Arena.

The 2005 world champion triumphed 6-3 in the pair’s clash, and the Rotherham player’s victory could have been even more comprehensive as he missed a chance to win 6-1.