Snooker: Hendry wins with arm break

THERE was no shortage of drama at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield yesterday where Stephen Hendry continued the defence of his Embassy World Championship

title despite fracturing his arm in a bathroom fall.

Fortunately for the 25-year-old No 1 seed, it was his left, not his cueing arm, that was damaged on Thursday night but the pain was still considerable as he completed a 13-2 second-round victory over Dave Harold.

'I'd been out to a restaurant,' Hendry said of his accident. 'I came back to my hotel and went into the bathroom in bare feet. I just slid on the carpet. It was like an ice-rink. I used my left arm to break my fall. It felt quite painful but I went to bed and actually slept well.'

Yesterday morning, however, Hendry found his arm 'was a lot less mobile' so he went for X-rays at a local private hospital, which revealed a fracture near the elbow. 'They took fluid from the elbow so I could straighten the arm,' Hendry said. No cast was applied as the Scot was adamant about playing on.

Hendry was placed on antibiotics after checking with the World Professional Billards and Snooker Association that the drugs were not on its proscribed list.

'I'm still in pain when I get down on the shot and also when I'm bridging,' Hendry said. 'But it felt OK when I was cueing. I don't play again now until Tuesday, so hopefully it will improve.'

Meanwhile, John Parrott's 13-3 demolition of Ronnie O'Sullivan raised more than a few eyebrows. Parrott, the champion three years ago, has not had the best of seasons, while O'Sullivan has won the United Kingdom and British Open titles in his first season as a professional. 'To beat someone of Ronnie's calibre with a session to spare is very gratifying,' Parrott said.

In another eagerly awaited second- round meeting, Ken Doherty, the conqueror of Alex Higgins, takes a 6-2 lead over Alan McManus into this morning's second session.