Stephen Hendry hurdled the twin barriers of jetlag and one of snooker's rising starsto reach the quarter-finals of the China Open in Shanghai today. The seven-times world champion, weary after three straight sleepless nights, successfully battled fatigue to score a 5-2 victory over Welshman Matthew Stevens, the Regal Masters champion.
“I've played snooker overseas countless times before and I have never had problems nodding off like this,” said Hendry. “I'm so tired I felt really sick all day.”
The eastern coast of China is eight hours ahead of British time and the body clock of Hendry, who flew in on Saturday, has still to adjust. He added: “I keep waking up at two o'clock in the morning and no matter what I can't get back to sleep. I brought two books with me on the trip but I've already read them both and now I'm reduced to watching any old film.”
But the Scot, attempting to capture his third title of the season after winning the Champions Cup and British Open, showed no adverse affects in the early stages of the contest. After losing the opener Hendry smoothly moved 2-1 ahead thanks to runs of 55, 52 and a 135 total clearance. The 476th century break of Hendry's 14 year professional career was his 20th of the campaign and puts him one ahead of Ronnie O'Sullivan at the top of the list.
The most important frame, though, was the fifth. Stevens, ideally placed to clear up, suffered an explosive kick on a routine green from its spot and Hendry eventually potted the colours to pink to edge into a 3-2 lead. A 48 break then gave Hendry frame six and the 30-year-old Scot set up a quarter-final against Joe Perry by clipping the black to a middle pocket at the end of a tight seventh.
“I don't have to play again until Friday so hopefully I'll get a good night's sleep and be all right by then,” said Hendry. “Mind you, I feel better when I am playing than when I am hanging around. It's easier when you're concentrating on snooker instead of wallowing in self-pity.”
The result, Hendry's fourth win over Stevens in five meetings, helped him remain in touch with Mark Williams, who heads the provisional world rankings after lifting the UK championship trophy in Bournemouth last month. I just can't afford to lose early on in a tournament, Hendry explained. The last thing I want is for Mark to build too big a lead going into the second half of the season.
