Hard going for Hendry against part-timer

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry was forced to call on his vast Crucible experience tonight after a torrid start against outsider David Gilbert.

Hendry fell 5-1 behind to the part-time potato planter from Tamworth before breaks of 68 and 76 helped win the next free frames to leave the match finely balanced at 5-4 ahead of tomorrow’s concluding session.

Hendry started well enough, recording a break of 51 to win the opening frame.

However, his inexperienced 25-year-old opponent shocked him by winning five frames on the bounce for a deserved lead.

Gilbert only compiled one notable break, a cool century in the sixth frame, but he did enough to scare Hendry into raising his game.