BBC Sport snooker

World Snooker Championship
Date: 18 April-4 May Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Coverage: Live coverage each day on BBC Two, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK only), updates on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Video - Hendry equals top break

Stephen Hendry turned on the style as he defeated Ding Junhui 13-10 in a scintillating clash to make the World Championship quarter-finals.

The pair were level after the opening two sessions but the Scot knocked in a 140 to equal the tournament's top break and then an 86 to lead by three.

China's top cueman hit back with a fine 32, before Hendry won the next, but a 121 break had Ding sniffing a comeback.

Hendry showed a few late wobbles but a stunning safety shot earned his win.

"It was a fantastic match, I'm delighted to win, delighted with how I played throughout the match, especially tonight," said Hendry.

606: DEBATE Great to see Hendry back in form. Thought he might have blown it a couple of times but took the last frame brilliantly Euandoug

"I came out tonight and it was as good as I've played this season. Credit to Ding, I was in front this afternoon and he came back, and tonight he looked as if he was coming back again."

The match was a fascinating battle throughout with the first and second session being shared equally at 4-4 and 8-8.

In front of a packed and enthralled Crucible audience, both had chances in the night's opener and an unlucky in-off enabled Hendry to win the frame after a magnificent yellow.

Hendry, world champion in 1990, 1992-96 and 1999, was on a roll and a sloppy safety shot from Ding let him in again as he knocked in a breathtaking 140 to equal Ronnie O'Sullivan's effort earlier in the week.

It was also Hendry's 1000th frame played at The Crucible.

A break of 86 gave him a three-frame lead, but Ding looked determined not to suffer an early exit and he made a fantastic break of 32 which included a number of extraordinary pots.

Hendry was showing a few signs of end-of-match nerves and a couple of bad misses let Ding in again who cut in a marvellous black before clearing to claim a fully-deserved frame to make it 11-9.

Just being involved - there is no greater place in the world to play snooker Stephen Hendry

The seven-time world champion struck back with a 49 to go within one of victory but his opponent knocked in a 121 - the match's fourth century - to get it back to 12-10.

Ding had chances in the next but the world number six held his nerve to set up a quarter-final against the winner of Shaun Murphy and Marco Fu.

It has been a poor season for the 40-year-old but having seen off two of snooker's heavyweights in Mark Williams and now Ding, there are signs Hendry may be peaking at exactly the right time.

He has not won a ranking title since 2005 but the odds for claiming glory in Sheffield this year will have shortened greatly after this latest showing.

Having gone 10 years without a World Championship trophy, Hendry added: "Vindication will only come with lifting the trophy, to me that's all I'm here for.

"It's just a fantastic feeling to be involved in a really great match against another top player. Just being involved - there is no greater place in the world to play snooker."

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