Hendry secures Maltese title
Stephen Hendry’s insatiable hunger for success carried him to a tense 9-7 victory over Graeme Dott in the final of the Malta Cup tonight.
The seven-times world champion staved off a brave fightback from his fellow Scot in a high quality and ultimately dramatic match.
Hendry, who pocketed a first prize of £30,000, has now collected 36 world-ranking event trophies in 19 years as a professional and on this form more
silverware could well be in the pipeline.
Hendry was made to sweat for his latest triumph as Dott came within a pot of forcing a deciding 17th frame after looking down and out when trailing 7-4.
Having laid two snookers on the yellow in a marathon frame 16, one fluked,
the other intentional, the pencil-thin 27 year-old from Larkhall was poised to clear up for 8-8.
But needing only the blue to carry the contest into sudden death, Dott missed it down the side cushion using the rest.
Given this unexpected lifeline Hendry leapt from his chair to pot blue, pink and black and clenched his fist in triumph.
“When Graeme was mopping up the colours I was convinced it was going to be 8-8. I was so relieved when he missed the blue,” said Hendry, beaten 9-8 by Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the Welsh Open a fortnight ago after leading 7-5.
“At 7-4 I was cruising but at the end it could have swung either way. I’m delighted with this because over the week I’ve played very well.
“I was really disappointed to lose in Wales but I’ve turned things around and I’ll leave here a winner,” added Hendry.
The ninth all-Scottish world-ranking event final began with the odds-on favourite Hendry immediately moving into top gear.
From his initial scoring chance Hendry put together a nerve-settling run of 92 and his second opening yielded a 114 break for a 2-0 advantage.
But Dott, who beat three world champions O’Sullivan, Steve Davis and John Higgins en route to the final, refused to panic.
The world number 15, who has grown in confidence since appearing in last year’s Crucible climax, showed he meant business by doggedly pulling back to 3-3.
Dott was also encouragingly placed in the last frame of the session but overcut a red to a middle pocket.
That proved a costly mistake as Hendry produced a 37 clearance, even though several balls were awkwardly situated, to remain on course for his first world ranking title since the 2003 British Open.
Dott opened the evening’s play with a 93 break but Hendry then engaged overdrive as he sprinted through the following three frames in only half an hour to move 7-4 ahead.
During this spell of domination Hendry fired in contributions of 101 – his third century of the contest and eighth of the event, 79 and 81 as he amassed 280 points without reply.
Dott refused to go quietly, though, and compiled breaks of 53, 83 and 59 to level at 7-7 before a scrappy 15th frame went against him.
“Battling is what I’m good at but it wasn’t good enough today. I’m gutted,” Dott said.
“It’s been a pleasing week but missing that blue was a horrible way to lose. If I’d potted it for 8-8 it was a toss of a coin.”
