'Stephen Hendry of old would have trounced me' Ronnie O'Sullivan admits after victory

Ronnie O'Sullivan crushed Stephen Hendry's hopes of Glasgow glory as a patchy performance proved enough to clinch a place in the 12bet.com World Open quarter-finals.

Seven-times world champion Hendry has gone five years without a ranking title, and the wait goes on after he failed to punish O'Sullivan for some careless play, losing 3-1 at the SECC tournament venue by the River Clyde.

"Stephen of old would have trounced me today," O'Sullivan admitted afterwards. "I'm just hacking it around a bit."

The match began with a terrific break from each player, with O'Sullivan's 93 to take the opening frame followed by 95 from Hendry to level matters.

But there followed a deter-ioration in standards, with O'Sullivan sneaking a scrappy third frame in which neither man convinced at the table. Both men played wayward shots until a break of 25 from O'Sullivan put the frame away.

After four reds and blacks at the start of the fourth frame, O'Sullivan ignored the possibility of a 147 by playing for the green off the next red, his mission to reach the last eight rather than make a daring bid for the 11th maximum of his career, and second of the week.

Hendry had played a poor break-off shot, running into the blue, and O'Sullivan raced to 66 before missing a routine red with the rest.

Hendry returned to the table with 75 points still on. Ten years ago he might have cleared up, however on this occasion the break ground to a halt on 23.

"Stephen in his prime would have 'dished up' there," O'Sullivan said. "Stephen in his prime would have won the third frame, won the fourth frame, won the fifth frame."

O'Sullivan then had a lucky break when he looked like leaving a red on for Hendry but left the Scot hampered by the brown. Hendry attempted a tricky pot, missed it and left O'Sullivan with a red to middle, and the match was soon over.

O'Sullivan has not won a major title in more than a year, his last coming in Shanghai in early September 2009, but is keen to end the drought this weekend. But after making a maximum break in his first match against Mark King, then knocking out Jimmy White and Hendry, the 34-year-old suggested it could be difficult to stay focused.

"You make a 147, play Jimmy White, play Stephen Hendry, it's over isn't it?'' O'Sullivan said.

"I'm going to try to win it, but I've played two of the greatest players to have ever played the game - Hendry arguably the greatest player to have picked up a cue and Jimmy the greatest entertainer and one of the greatest players.

"They were easy to get up for, those matches. But against other players I might struggle a bit. I've got to play better than that anyway to win it."

Ricky Walden also advanced to the last eight after an impressive 3-1 victory over Jamie Cope.

Walden is looking to nudge towards the top 16 after surprisingly falling to 27th in the rankings. He made breaks of 58, 98 and 53 in knocking out world No 13 Cope.

Stephen Maguire was some way below his best against his fellow Scot Alan McManus, but still won 3-0.

Maguire saved his best for last against an opponent whose highest break in the match was 13, sealing victory with a run of 77.