Murphy fends off Hendry challenge

Shaun Murphy saw off six-time champion Stephen Hendry in a high-class second-round clash in the Masters at Wembley.

Murphy surrendered a presentable chance of wrapping up a 6-3 victory in the ninth frame and could have found himself facing a decider had he not potted a fortunate blue to seal a 6-4 triumph.

Murphy started proceedings strongly with an opening half-century break on his way to taking the first frame. Hendry hit back with a top-quality break of 114 - the first century of this year's event - followed by a 79 to go 2-1 up.

Murphy triumphed in a cagey fourth frame and took the next two to go 4-2 ahead before a second three-figure break from Hendry, this time 104, put him back in the hunt.

The response from Murphy was emphatic though, as he made a break of 106 in the next frame. The clash could have been over had Murphy not carelessly lost control of the table at 5-3 up and 43-14 ahead. Instead Hendry managed to pull it back to 5-4.

The final frame was a fascinating affair, with Murphy at one stage leaving his opponent needing a snooker. The Scot duly obliged by putting his English opponent in trouble, with the white tucked in behind the black, and Murphy missed the blue.

But the match was eventually ended when Murphy attempted a safety and nudged in the blue, prompting Hendry to concede.

Murphy will now play Mark Williams or Ali Carter in the next stage after the former saw off outsider Rory McLeod.

Williams brushed aside the qualifier 6-2 to set up Tuesday's meeting with Carter.

McLeod won the qualifying event to make his debut in the event at the age of 38, crushing Andrew Higginson 6-1 in the final, but struggled to match his more decorated opponent.