Mark Selby won the final three frames to record a 6-5 victory over Stephen Hendry in the first round of the SAGA Insurance Masters.
Seven-time world champion goes out in deciding frame
Mark Selby won the final three frames to record a 6-5 victory over Stephen Hendry in the first round of the SAGA Insurance Masters.
The Leicester potter looked to heading for the exit as Hendry - a six-time winner of this event - hit breaks of 60 and 105 while powering into a 5-3 lead.
But Selby showcased his unflappable temperament to win three frames on the trot, including his only half-century break in the penultimate frame, and book a quarter-final showdown against Stephen Maguire.
"He's been a great player, probably the best player to ever come out of snooker, but I'm not complaining," said Selby. "If he's missing balls then he's giving me chances.
"Normally when he's near the finishing line he just runs it (victory) home. He had a great break to go 5-3 up and after that I thought it was more or less over.
"But thankfully I managed to dig in. As far as wins go that has to be up there with the best.
"To come here and beat Stephen, who has won the title here six times before, was a big ask for me. But obviously I've come through the match, so I'm chuffed to bits.
"It's like him playing in his own back yard, so I was like a rabbit in headlights to start with, but all the way through the match I felt great, I'm full of confidence at the moment."
Hendry reflected: "People will read into this result and say 'Hendry's gone', but I'm too good a player for my form not to come back.
"I'm playing so well it's just a matter of time before I'm back. One good win, then I'm back!
"If I was playing like that in practice then I'd give up, but I'm not. It's only a matter of time before it (my form) comes out."
Ebdon through
Peter Ebdon also progressed to the quarter-finals with a 6-4 success over Ryan Day.
Former world champion Ebdon rolled in four half-centuries to open a 4-2 lead against his Welsh opponent, who beat Barry Hawkins 6-2 in the wild-card round on Sunday to earn a place in the main draw.
Day dug in with a pair of 50 breaks that allowed him to win the next two frames and level the match at 4-4.
But Ebdon secured the ninth frame with a run of 55 and then sealed the result in the next.
He will play either Graeme Dott or Stephen Lee in the last eight.
