Hendry turns the tables on Higgins

Snooker

Stephen Hendry made light of slipping two frames behind to beat John Higgins 6-4 at Wembley last night to earn a place in the quarter-finals of the Benson and Hedges Masters.

Hendry, winner of five successive Masters titles from 1989 to 1993, looked in danger of failing to clear his first hurdle for the first time in his career when Higgins, the provisional world No 2, built a 4-2 lead. However, Hendry, edged 5-4 by Higgins in the first round of last month's Liverpool Victoria Charity Challenge after being three frames up with four to play, turned the tables on his fellow Scot.

The key frame was the seventh. Higgins led 58-0 but missed a tough red and Hendry responded with a run of 47 before completing his recovery with a clearance to pink launched by a pinpoint positional shot from yellow to green.

Alan McManus, who won the invitation tournament two years ago, clawed his way back from 4-1 down to edge Matthew Stevens 6-5.