Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry overcame his old rival Jimmy White 6-3 to move a step closer to a dream Crucible return.
It was the legendary Scotsman’s first victory in professional snooker since beating John Higgins at the 2012 World Championship prior to his quarter-final exit that prompted his nine-year retirement, and it’s somewhat fitting it comes against the player he enjoyed so much of his success against in the 1990s.
Four times he denied six-time runner-up White in Crucible finals between 1990 and 1994 but never did either think they’d meet at the earliest possible stage of the tournament three decades on.
Hendry, 52, will need to significantly improve on his performance if he’s to make it through the remaining three qualifying rounds having compiled just three 50+ breaks of 53, 66 and 53 in a scrappy and understandably nervy contest between two players so desperate to get back to snooker’s spiritual home.
His middle clearance of 66, however, was one of the few glimpses of genuine quality as he came to the table trailing 62-0 before opening up a 5-1 lead that knocked the stuffing out of White.
The Whirlwind, who did gain a slither of revenge for all the 90s heartache by defeating Hendry en route to World Seniors glory last year, did mount a mini revival by pulling two frames back but it was too little too late.
In his 100th World Championship match, Hendry completed the job in the next frame with the help of a run of 53 as he set up a meeting with Xu Si on Wednesday.
White, 58, hasn’t qualified at the Crucible since the 2006 edition and even his most ardent supporters will struggle to believe he’ll ever return again and he may have to rely on another World Snooker wildcard just to remain on the professional circuit.
