Thorne survives snooker challenge

Press, 24 April 1986, Page 28

Thorne survives snooker challenge

NZPA-Reuter Sheffield England’s Willie Thorne survived what he said was the greatest pressure he had faced in snooker when he outlasted Stephen Hendry, aged 18, 10-8 in the first round of the World Championships yesterday. Thorne, seeded eleventh but considered a prime contender for the title, joined in applauding Hendry out of the Crucible Theatre after subduing his young • Scottish rival, who has just turned 17 but who looks about 12. “He was tremendous, and I was proud to be involved in the match with him,” said Thorne after taking a dogged battle against the youngest player to get through

the qualifying rounds into the championship proper. Hendry took the scrappy first two frames of the morning, but after Thome levelled at 2-2, the standard increased. There was never more than a frame between them, until the end when Thome won the last two after Hendry had drawn level at 8-8. Earlier the Canadian fifth seed, Kirk Stevens,’ finished off a 10-6 victory over Dean Reynolds, of England. In other matches, Eddie Charlton of Australia took a 5-4 lead over the Englishman, Cliff Wilson; the South African, Silvino Francisco, won the first six frames against Rex Williams of England.