Snooker: Hendry fights back at Crucible

STEPHEN HENDRY will put thoughts of retirement to the back of his mind after roaring back to beat 18-year-old Chinese sensation Zhang Anda at the Crucible.

The seven times a winner of the World Championship, trailed Zhang 9-7 last night and that was the point at which quitting the game crossed his mind. But he turned the match around to prevail 10-9 and secure his place in the second round.

Hendry had looked like making a humiliating first-round exit at the hands of a player who was not even born when he landed the first of his titles in Sheffield, in 1990, but now a clash with Masters champion Mark Selby awaits in the last 16.

"At 9-7 down I had my retirement speeches ready. I felt it just summed up a dismal season.

"But something just clicked and I wish I knew how to do it because if I could produce it more often I'd be in contention to win tournaments."