Snooker: Stephen Hendry averted a second consecutive first-round exit from the World Championship as he fought back for a 10-7 victory against little-known David Gilbert.
The seven-time former champion was knocked out by Nigel Bond at the opening stage last year and looked in grave danger of another early defeat when he trailed 5-1 to Gilbert in the first session.
But he had reduced his arrears to 5-4 going into today's conclusion and although he could not shake off his opponent until the closing stages, the Scot's vast experience ultimately carried him over the winning line.
Playing competitively with a new cue for the first time, the 38-year-old's highest break of the match was a mere 76 and he was more pleased with the way he had responded to being under pressure than the form he produced.
"I had to dig deep," said the world number one, who meets Ali Carter or Andy Hicks in the second round on Saturday. "I thought my attitude and concentration was fantastic through the whole match, which is something I had been working hard on. If my attitude had been better last year I wouldn't have lost in the first round.
"I could easily have chucked this match at 5-1 down, so I'm delighted with the way I dug in and won nine of the next 11 frames. I thought that was a tremendous performance."
On the other table Australia's Neil Robertson, the only man to win two ranking titles this season, opened a 6-3 lead against Ryan Day.
Robertson led 4-0 before the Welshman fought back and the 'Melbourne Machine' took the final frame of the session on a respotted black to give himself a handy cushion for tonight's conclusion.