hendrys 51 clearence!!

[Wim]

nobody saying it is championship winning standards but hes beaten mark williams now its for a chinese go away in round 2 lol

Looki is nevertheless making a point, Mark Williams played some really bad snooker allowing Hendry to come several times to the table in the same frame.
Hendry's breaks were decent but not substantial to win frames in 1 visit.
Playing against Maguire, Osullivan or Selby like this - just to name a few -won't simply be good enough. His level (read his breakbuilding) will have to be much higher in the next rounds, what he hasn't shown for a long time.

[Maija]

Hendry's breaks were decent but not substantial to win frames in 1 visit.
Playing against Maguire, Osullivan or Selby like this - just to name a few -won't simply be good enough. His level (read his breakbuilding) will have to be much higher in the next rounds, what he hasn't shown for a long time.

A win's a win, though, and one at the World Championship will give some confidence in the build-up to round two. I know Hendry has said that he wants to "win pretty", but at least now he's given himself the chance to go on and attempt to do that.

[Looki]

I've got nothing against Hendry rising his game and going all the way. Quite the opposite! But if that first match taught us something was that he needs to improve, a lot.

[spike]

I think we will see a more relaxed & a more sharper Hendry in his 2nd round match. No doubt he will have to improve from his first round match - but there were signs at times of the old Hendry especially when he was right in amongst the balls. his long game will have to improve but it would be of no surprise if he beat either Ding or Liang.

[alex_5525]

was incredible clearance, should have won, which he did. hopefully will meet liang in second round.

[attilahun]

If he will play against a confident Ding he will lose heavily...but if he can make Ding lose concentration by being in front early on he could win that match.....will be favorite against Wenbo, imo.
The next match will be all about Ding....if he can play at the level we now he can play it, Hendry doesnt stand a chance...if not....Will see Stephen in the quarters.

[Mal]

The next match will be all about Ding....if he can play at the level we now he can play it, Hendry doesnt stand a chance...if not....Will see Stephen in the quarters.

You could say exactly the same about Hendry - in fact if they both played their best Hendry would win. Yes, you can see Hendry is 40 and past it, but when people complete discount him. He hammered Ding last year and I expect the same this year. Before the start I said he'd struggle against Williams, but if he got through I fancy him to make the semis and I stick by that. Hendry with confidence at the World Championship is the player to beat along with O'Sullivan of course. He doesn't have any 'bogey' players like Stevens to meet either.

[attilahun]

You could say exactly the same about Hendry - in fact if they both played their best Hendry would win. Yes, you can see Hendry is 40 and past it, but when people complete discount him. He hammered Ding last year and I expect the same this year. Before the start I said he'd struggle against Williams, but if he got through I fancy him to make the semis and I stick by that. Hendry with confidence at the World Championship is the player to beat along with O'Sullivan of course. He doesn't have any 'bogey' players like Stevens to meet either.

Hendry at his best would slaughter Ding...but nowadays you must get used to the fact that in some matches is not about him, its about his opponent. Nowadays Ding is a better player and if he will maintain his cool, he will beat Hendry. He has all the qualities required. Ding in full flow can win a lot of frames in one visit...Hendry can not do that anymore, he lacks consistency....and is normal, hes not in his prime anymore.
But, to repeat myself, he can win this match if he will be able to put pressure on Ding.

[Zoe]

Hendy is often weak in the first round, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006 to name just a few years. Now he is into the second round though watch out. In 2 of the years I listed he survived a difficult first round match and went on to win the tournament. just as long as he does not run into O'Sullivan.

[brettski]

One of the best pressure clearences I've seen, and he looked so calm afterwards it was unreal. I'm pretty sure the clearence was what won him that match, was nice to see his skill won it and not the sheer luck of the other player.

[alex_5525]

a load of balls.....(sorry just had to be said on a snooker forum)

hendry does sometimes loose first rounds but when he wins them he goes far, e.g. last year shockingly he reached the semis, as you will all remember.

hendry vs ding- could go either way
hendry vs wenbo-i prefere wenbos style but would have to favour hendry.