STEPHEN HENDRY, bidding for a sixth world crown in seven years, leads Peter Ebdon 10-6 after the first day of the Worlds Championship final in Sheffield yesterday. He needs eight of today's remaining 19 frames to keep the trophy.

Hendry was four balls away from becoming the only player in Crucible Theatre history to compile two maximum breaks, but the final brown in frame 10 proved his undoing when it rattled in the jaws on the pocket and stayed out.

The near miss that cost him the chance of a £147,000 prize for the second successive year.

But Hendry's ample consolation is a valuable four frame cushion.

And it would certainly have added insult to injury for Ebdon had Hendry been successful with his 147 attempt.

It would have removed the London born Ebdon's name from the top of the high break leaderboard, with his 144 clearance against Dean O'Kane standing since the opening day of the championship.

Hendry shrugged off his disappointment - but it wasn't his failure to rewrite the history books that spurred him towards the £200,000 first prize.

The turning point came three frames later - even though Ebdon, appearing in his first Embassy final, reduced his arrears to 7-6.

Perhaps unwisely - doubling the black to win on a spot - Ebdon had left the shouting encouragement to self and pumping his fists triumph.

He uses the tactics to psyche himself up, but on this occasion, his actions apparently got under Hendry's skin.

For in the next three frames Ebdon didn't score a point as Hendry knocked in breaks of 55, 47, 38 and 44 to seize the initiative.