Match Reports from the 888.com World Snooker Championship
Ali Puts Hendry On The Ropes
Stephen Hendry 4 – 12 Ali Carter
Ali Carter dominated the second successive session to get within a frame of eliminating a dismal Stephen Hendry.
Carter played sensible, consistent snooker to build on the 6-2 lead he built in the first session. He scored heavily where he could, but the most significant factor was his supremacy in the safety battles.
Hendry regularly handed the initiative to his opponent, who was able to win frames in two or three visits.
The first two frames were shared, but the next two followed what became the prevailing pattern for the session.
Careless safety from Hendry let Carter in time and again. The 27-year-old made a 66 to take the 11th, and went 9-3 up with breaks of 48 and 83 in the 12th.
Hendry came out after the interval with a 57 to reduce his arrears to five, but the world number one could not capitalise after that.
The Scot had a decent chance in the next frame, but missed a simple red with the rest to let Carter in. The man from Essex ran out of position on 29, but untidy safety from Hendry allowed a second chance to clinch the frame. He gratefully took it to go 10-4 up.
Breaks of 20 and 37, in addition to 16 points in fouls, were enough to extend his lead to 11-4. In the final frame of the session, Carter got to within sight of the last eight with a confident 83 to deepen Hendry’s gloom.
By David Pritchard
