O'Sullivan proves his point

O'Sullivan: Held by Hendry

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Ronnie O'Sullivan fought back from 3-1 down to claim a 3-3 draw with Stephen Hendry in their Premier League clash at the Grimsby Auditorium.

The result ensures defending champion O'Sullivan remains unbeaten at the top of the table after four matches played.

Seven-time world champion Hendry came into the contest with just one win to his name in three previous matches, but capitalised on a missed pink from 'The Rocket' to snatch the first frame.

The Scotsman again grabbed the initiative at the start of the second with a composed 35 break, however a missed red brought O'Sullivan back to the table, albeit briefly.

A missed blue proved costly, Hendry stepping in to extend his lead 2-0.

However, O'Sullivan has not won this competition for each of the last five seasons by chance, and the Essex cueman compiled a frame-winning break of 78 in the third to reduce the deficit.

With the match fascinatingly poised, Hendry racked up an accomplished 76 break of his own in frame four, O'Sullivan responding emphatically with a classy 95 in the next.

Intent

Trailing 3-2, O'Sullivan struck first in the decisive final frame with a break of 42, and despite Hendry returning to the table, 'The Rocket' clung on for the draw.

"I'm pleased with how I felt in the frames near the end," O'Sullivan told Sky Sports 1 after the match.

"Sometimes you get inspired by playing Stephen so maybe I need to play him more often as when I'm playing some other players I feel like I'm falling asleep."

The other match on Thursday night saw Shaun Murphy reignite his qualification hopes with a 5-1 victory over an out-of-sorts Marco Fu.

The comprehensive performance, which included two century breaks, ends the Hong Kong player's slim hopes of finishing in the top four after just four games.

Neither player had won a match heading into this encounter, however Fu signalled his intent early with a composed 91 break in frame one.

That, however, was as good as it got for the 2003 champion, Murphy responding with breaks of 50 and 62 before ensuring at least one point with the first century of the night.

The 2005 world champion saved his best for the fifth frame, sealing his first victory of the campaign with a brilliant 134 break, cruelly denied a 147 when the 14th black rattled the jaws.

And Murphy completed an eye-catching night's work with a 62 break which ultimately proved enough in the final frame.