Hendry qualifies, loses youngest player record

Seven-time world champion Hendry beat his Chinese opponent 10-6 at the English Institute of Sport to add another big name to the draw for the tournament which begins on April 21.

Hendry succeeded where fellow veterans Jimmy White and Steve Davis failed by qualifying for the Crucible – the first time he has had to do so since 1988 - but he will see his record as the youngest ever player to play at the famous theatre be eclipsed this season.

At the age of 17 years and one month, Luca Brecel will surpass Hendry's long-held record by two months after beating world number 31 Mark King 10-8 in their qualifier.

The Belgian teenager, ranked 87th in the world, is not entering just to make up the numbers.

"Since I started playing snooker I wanted to be world champion," he said. "I went to the Crucible last year to watch. It was unbelievable, I loved the atmosphere."

Former world champion Peter Ebdon cruised into the main draw after he whitewashed fellow Englishman Alfie Burden 10-0.

There will be a strong Chinese contingent at the Crucible this year after Liang Wenbo won his battle with Scotland's Marcus Campbell 10-9 in a tense match that went the distance.

Liang joins fellow Chinese qualifiers Ding Junhui, Cao Yupeng and Liu Chuang at the Crucible, along with Hong Kong's Marcu Fu who beat Joe Jogia 10-4.

Full results:

Dominic Dale (Eng) 10-3 Ben Woollaston (Eng)

Fergal O'Brien (Ire) 4-10 David Gilbert (Eng)

Andrew Higginson (Eng) 10-4 Peter Lines (Eng)

Peter Ebdon (Eng) 10-0 Alfie Burden (Eng)

Barry Hawkins (Eng) 10-4 David Morris (Ire)

Joe Perry (Eng) 10-8 Jamie Burnett (Sco)

Marco Fu (HK) 10-4 Joe Jogia (Eng)

Stephen Hendry (Sco) 10-6 Yu Delu (Chn)

Mark King (Eng) 8-10 Luca Brecel (Bel)

Marcus Campbell (Sco) 9-10 Liang Wenbo (Chn)