Hendry - drought over (Allsport).

HENDRY DROUGHT OVER

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The message from Malta on Saturday was simple - Stephen Hendry is back.

After enduring 27 months without a world ranking title, the Scot ended the worst slump of his career by hammering Joe Perry 9-2 in a one-sided European Open final at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.

Hendry has now won 72 professional tournaments - only one short of the record 73 achieved by Steve Davis - and 33 of those have been ranking events.

But his latest triumph ended a frustrating spell in the wilderness during which Hendry has not got his name engraved on a world ranking trophy since firing in a 147 break on the way to beating Peter Ebdon in the British Open in September 1999.

After tonight's win, Hendry paid tribute to ex-world champion Terry Griffiths who has been his coach since the start of the season.

"This is all down to Terry," said Hendry.

"Without going into detail, he's fixed the technical faults I had and he's fixed my head. One of the things he picked up on was that I'd become too casual at tournaments. He's put my mind back on the job.

"The technical problems caused my head to go in the first place, but it's only winning big matches and titles that really restore your confidence. That's why this is so important to me."

Hendry oozed confidence after morale-boosting victories over Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals and Ken Doherty in the semis.

With world number 27 Perry showing his inexperience at vital stages of the final, it turned into a showcase for the Scot's break-building skills.

Hendry made an immediate statement with a 124 break in the opening frame before Perry counter-punched with an equally well-crafted run of 118 in the second.

By the end of the afternoon session, though, Hendry had pulled away to a 6-2 lead as Perry found containment beyond him.

Hendry powered away with further breaks of 88, 73, 44, 53, 50 and, in the sixth frame, a 130 total clearance. That was his fifth century of the week and his 543rd in professional competition.

When the match re-started, Perry had opportunities to launch a comeback. But, right in among the balls in the ninth and 10th frames, he missed an easy black - and ruthless Hendry was in no mood to let him off the hook.

"It certainly felt like the old days out there," added a delighted Hendry.

"It's nice to feel at home again in a major final and produce that sort of form. When Joe made his century in the second frame I knew it was imperative to score heavily - and I did."

Perry said: "Stephen put me under the cosh from the off, and towards the end it started to get to me. Every time I missed I thought I would lose the frame - and most of the time I was right.

"On today's performance Stephen's definitely back. He was tremendous in every department."