Mark takes Hendry to the wire

West Midlands snooker player Mark Allen was left in tears after seven-time champion Stephen Hendry  produced a superb fightback to bea thim  in a thrilling first-round clash at the  World Championship in Sheffield. 

Hendry had trailed 6-3 overnight and then 9-7 to the qualifier who lives in Gornal before winning the last three frames to seal a 10-9 victory. 

Allen will be kicking himself for letting such a famous win slip through his grasp, the 22-year-old being just two pots away from victory in the 18th frame and then going in-off when potting the opening red in the decider. 

Allen was in tears as he reflected on a wasted opportunity, in particular that chance to go 7-3 ahead. 

“That gave Stephen a lot of a confidence,” Allen said. “If I had gone 7-3 ahead it would have been different and maybe I could have relaxed a little bit. 

“I thought I played the better snooker but I had my chance in the last frame and didn’t take it. 

“The way Stephen took the last frame shows what he is still capable of and it shows how experience matters at the Crucible. A lot of players would have crumbled in that last frame but he played a perfect frame.”  Resuming  yesterday afternoon Hendry won the 10th frame on the black by securing the two snookers . 

It was Allen’s turn to need a snooker in the next frame but, after successful drawing Hendry into a foul, the 22-year-old from Antrim hammered the final back into the jaws of the bottom pocket and watched in disbelief as it bounced off the table. 

Things went from bad to worse  in the next, referee Michaela Tabb calling a foul when his waistcoat brushed a red as he stretched to pot the black while on a break of 57. 

 Allen then won the final frame before the mid-session interval to lead 7-6. 

A run of 89 made it 8-6 to the former world amateur champion but Hendry replied with 65 to reduce the deficit once more. 

Making just his second appearance at the Crucible, Allen hit back with 55 to get within sight of the finishing line but Hendry dug deep and levelled at 9-9 when Allen missed a pink to the middle trying to gain position on the match-winning final red. 

Allen was then unlucky to see the white roll into the middle pocket after potting a long red in the decider and Hendry took full advantage with a break of 72 to seal victory in the best match of the tournament so far.