Stephen Hendry described his epic 13-12 victory over Barry Pinches as "one of my hardest ever Crucible battles" after reaching the Embassy World Championship quarter-finals in Sheffield.

At 35, Hendry is the oldest player left in the tournament but his experience did not look as though it was going to pull him through.

In the end, qualifier Pinches made a fatal error in the deciding frame, missing a black off its spot and giving the seven-times champion an opportunity to finally put the contest out of reach.

Hendry now plays countryman Alan McManus or Lancashire left-hander Ian McCulloch for a place in the semi-finals.

"I've had some battles down the years here and that one is pretty near the top of the list," agreed the relieved world number two who saw the match slipping away when he trailed 11-9.

"I didn't expect Barry to mess up in a million years when he got in at the end. I at least expected him to draw level and then it would have come down to a toss of a coin.

"I knew at 11-9 the hardest thing for Barry would be to get over the line. So, I knew I had to try and keep the pressure on him.

"But it didn't seem to have any effect on him. I keep saying that an outsider will never win but the top players are dropping like flies.

"So, I'm pleased to still be in the tournament. I had to battle because things weren't going my way and my head could easily have gone down."

Hendry was expected to be put world number 36 Pinches in his place when they resumed this afternoon, tied at 8-8.

But the 33-year-old from Norwich was determined to enjoy his first appearance at the Crucible since 1991.

Pinches, still on a high after his first-round victory over Jimmy White, reeled off three successive frames after Hendry had clinched the opener withbreaks of 59 and 33.

Hendry is never more dangerous when he is behind. A 95 run brought the score back to 11-10 and he then drew level at 11-11.

Hendry did not allow Pinches a point in frame 23 thanks to another vintage effort of 84.

However, he missed a blue into a middle pocket early in the penultimate frame and Pinches made 47 to force the decider.

Hendry was first in play and opened up a 36-0 advantage. But an unkind split ended his break of 35 and a few shots later Pinches had his chance of a famous victory.

"I tried to force a bit of an angle off the black and just took my eye off the shot," said Pinches.

"When you do that you can miss anything. I didn't feel under any extra pressure but I just took my eye off the black.

"I didn't think it was a frame-winning chance anyway so I won't be worrying too much about it.

"I thought it was a high standard match and it was more like I have been playing in the qualifying rounds.

"It's certainly the best match I've played on TV. I'm still a bit edgy and I'm conscious the cameras are on me and that I don't want to make a fool of myself."

Pinches certainly did not do that and he leaves Crucible with his reputation firmly enhanced.