Snooker: Hendry back after break

A refreshed Stephen Hendry beat Gerard Greene yesterday to reach the last 16 of the Players' Championship in Glasgow.

The seven-times world champion bounced back from his early exit in the Irish Masters to beat Greene 5-1. After losing to Mark King in Dublin, Hendry remarked that snooker had become "a chore". Yesterday, however, after setting up a meeting with Alan McManus, he said: "For eight days after Ireland I didn't pick up my cue. I had a few rounds of golf and just relaxed."

The world No 2 took the lead with a break of 103 in the first frame and doubled his advantage before Greene responded with 73 to win his only frame. Hendry restored his two-frame cushion before the interval and eased away in the second half.