Hendry takes massive step to the play-offs - 11/10/2007

Grimsby Auditorium
October 11, 2007
John Higgins 2-4 Stephen Hendry
Higgins' scores first
8-117 (Hendry 63, 50), 59-24 (Higgins 53), 47-61 (Higgins 34, Hendry 39), 0-128 (Hendry 128), 128-0 (Higgins 128), 48-82 (Higgins 38, Hendry 48)

STEPHEN Hendry took a massive step towards the play-offs of the 2007 PartyBets.com Premier League Snooker.

Hendry took his tally to seven points with a 4-2 triumph against John Higgins, who now faces a struggle to qualify.

"This more or less gets me into the semi-finals so I'm delighted," said Hendry.

"I've always enjoyed playing in this event but never been a fan of the shot clock. But I always fancy my chances and I try my best and see what happens."

The first match of the sixth round saw the current league leader Stephen Hendry go up against the player in last - John Higgins.

With only one point from his first two encounters, this was a must-win for Higgins if he was to have any chance of finishing in the top four to make the semi-finals.

Hendry was first to make a sizeable break with a score of 63, but then missed one of the six remaining reds to give Higgins an opportunity.

But he could not take advantage and even a time foul from Hendry, his second in successive weeks, was not punished as Hendry made another run of 50 to move 1-0 ahead.

Hendry moved 24 points in front in the next but Higgins got to the table and made a hard-fought 53, although he then ran out of position 29 points ahead but with 35 still on the table. But it was soon to become 1-1 as Higgins claimed £1,000 and his first frame of the evening.

The third seemed to follow in the same pattern with Hendry scoring 39 but then giving his opponent a chance. Higgins made a fine long pot on a red to take his total on to 34 but a missed blue saw him back in his seat.

However, both players then missed a number of shots as three unforced errors from Higgins, including a decisive miss on the blue, gifted Hendry the frame for 2-1.

He then secured at least a point with the 13th century of the tournament - and his third - with a score of 128, the seventh highest break of the year. Higgins matched the feat in the fifth with a similar break of 128 to keep the match alive, although he still needed to win the last to claim one point.

At 38 points ahead, he seemed on course to do this but was unlucky as he crashed into the pack of reds but was left with no easy pot and the break was over. Hendry moved ten ahead with a run of 48 but then ran out of position.

With three reds left the score was tied at 48-48 but Hendry did enough to claim the frame, victory and likely place in the semi-finals.