The Hindu : Sport / Billiards & Snooker : Hendry sets up intriguing clash with O'Sullivan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 30, 2004

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Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Hendry sets up intriguing clash with O'Sullivan

SHEFFIELD, APRIL 29. Stephen Hendry eased to a 13-3 victory over Ian McCulloch at the World championship on Wednesday, setting up a heavyweight semifinal showdown with Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Welshman Matthew Stevens, who held off a determined late comeback from Joe Perry to win his quarterfinal match 13-10, will meet Graeme Dott in the other last four tie.

``It was a pretty solid performance,'' Hendry told reporters at the Crucible Theatre. ``I got into the lead and was never in danger, so I was able to play my natural game.''

O'Sullivan, his next opponent, is the bookies' favourite and the man in form but Hendry believes this will count for little.

``Ronnie's playing at a higher standard than me and his break-building has been incredible,'' said the Briton. ``But it's what happens on the day.''

Two years ago, O'Sullivan angered Hendry by telling the Scot he would be ``sending him back to his sad little life in Scotland'' before their semifinal meeting at the Crucible.

Although the pair has hardly spoken since, Hendry is keen to play down any suggestion of animosity.

``That's water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned,'' said the seven-times champion, who has won all three of his matches against O'Sullivan in the tournament. ``I've got the utmost respect for Ronnie — he's one of the greatest natural talents I've ever seen.''

Stevens held on against Perry to seal his fourth semifinal appearance in five years. Perry recovered from 11-4 down to trail Stephens 10-12, but the Welshman clinched a scrappy 23rd frame to seal victory.

``I'm still in and I've got a good chance to win,'' said Stevens, winner of the UK championship earlier this season. ``I know what to expect because I've been here before.''

Dott, who was never behind in a low-scoring match, beat David Gray 13-7 in the last quarterfinal to set up a clash with Stevens.

The results (quarterfinals):

Graeme Dott (Sco) bt David Gray (Eng) 13-7 (66-17, 74-40, 68-42, 1-64, 61-32, 64-34, 65-27, 25-66, 53-49, 42-69, 83-14, 70-41, 46-75, 66-54, 80-1, 31-67, 11-93, 63-49, 59-84, 65-33.

Stephen Hendry (Sco) bt Ian McCulloch (Eng) 13-3 (92-22, 80-0, 28-86, 71-1, 77-14, 67-11, 68-29, 6-117 (117-break), 66-62, 94-29, 94-17, 1-108 (108-break), 78-21, 103 (103-break)-31, 70-2, 127 (110-break)-0.

Matthew Stevens (Wal) bt Joe Perry (Eng) 13-10 (72-39, 1-108, 45-78, 77-8, 128 (128-break)-0, 73-61, 10-65, 73-37, 72-44, 17-63, 134 (125-break)-0, 93-4, 68-2, 68-1, 66-32, 55-80, 31-60, 28-67, 24-62, 78-41, 80-54, 29-85, 63-26.

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