Snooker World Championship: Stephen Hendry potted his way into the World Championship record books yet again as he began the second round of the tournament against fellow Scot Drew Henry yesterday.
Hendry's break of 115 in frame six was his 100th century at The Crucible since making his debut against Willie Thorne in 1986.
It also enabled him to draw level at 3-3 with Henry, who shocked the seven-times champion by opening up with the first three frames.
Hendry's ton of tons is a superb achievement as John Higgins, his nearest rival, lags behind on 63. Yet 34-year-old Hendry wasn't exactly in good humour as he left the arena. For the second match running he failed to produce his best snooker.
The world number six, attempting to win his first world crown since 1999, was sluggish against Gary Wilkinson. And he certainly struggled again against Henry, a player he had beaten on their previous two meetings.
There was even a chance world number 22 Henry could have gone further in front as he led 42-34 in frame four, helped by a break of 42. However, Hendry eventually opened his account and then battled his way to the next four frames.
The match resumes today with a further eight frames before concluding tonight. The eventual winner will play Alan McManus or Marco Fu.
Welsh player Mark Williams completed the last 16 line-up and set the alarm bells ringing for his title rivals with the most comprehensive victory of the first round, a 10-2 success over England's Stuart Pettman.
Williams has now won 46 successive opening matches in ranking events - a record he feels will never be beaten.
"It makes a change to have a record Stephen Hendry doesn't hold," grinned the 28-year-old left hander. Williams faces Quinten Hann for a place in the quarter-finals.
Paul Hunter had a 10-5 victory over Ali Carter and faces Matthew Stevens next.
FIRST ROUND: P Hunter (Eng) bt A Carter (Eng) 10-5 Frame scores (Hunter first): 103-23, 70-55, 81-0, 86-25, 69-62, 68-54, 135-1, 83-37, 44-54, 62-16, 40-75, 17-61, 1-126, 0-65, 106-19; M Williams (Wal) bt S Pettman (Eng) 10-2 Frame scores (Williams first): 30-59, 80-0, 76-35, 61-26, 77-13, 43-65, 100-0, 77-14, 55-15, 78-47, 102-4, 68-32; SECOND ROUND: S Hendry (Sco) leads D Henry (Sco) 5-3 Frame scores (Hendry first): 44-68, 35-71, 28-65, 74-48, 59-23, 117-4, 83-18, 69-55.
