Snooker: Selby chalks up a record six centuries

Selby's six centuries against Hendry saw him enter the record books for the most tons in a Crucible match, beating the previous record by one, and he could yet have another when he carries a 12-4 lead into today's concluding afternoon session.

The 27-year-old has been majestic in the second-round match, and after breaks of 125, 108 and 129 on Saturday, he rifled in 100, 127 and 117 yesterday.

He then rubbed Hendry's nose in the dirt when snookers were required in the final frame of the day by drawing five fouls from the Scot and coming from 48 points behind to take it 77-76.

The only consolation for Hendry was that he avoided defeat with a session to spare in what could be his last Crucible match, 25 years after losing in his first against Willie Thorne.

Hendry, now 42, will consider retirement this summer.

While Selby was carving up Hendry, Shaun Murphy cut into Ronnie O'Sullivan's lead to set up what should be a thrilling finale this evening.

O'Sullivan was 6-2 ahead at the start of play, but Murphy trimmed that advantage to 9-7. Runs of 95 and 59 saw O'Sullivan go from 7-5 to 9-5 in front, but Murphy finished strongly with 83 to take frame 15 and then kept O'Sullivan pointless in the last of the session.

Masters champion Ding Junhui surprisingly also trails 9-7, in his clash with Basildon's Stuart Bingham.

Five-three behind after the first session, it became worrying for the large contingent of Chinese supporters when Bingham stretched away at 8-4, but runs of 93 and 75 from Ding cut that lead to two frames.

Bingham nudged three clear before Ding made 91 in the closing frame to stay in the hunt.

In their second-round clash, John Higgins moved 10-5 of Wellingborough's Rory McLeod.