Ronnie O`Sullivan equals Hendry's record in Masters win

London: Ronnie O`Sullivan equalled Stephen Hendry`s all-time record of 775 century breaks en route to a 6-4 victory over Ricky Walden at the Masters in London on Tuesday.

O`Sullivan, the reigning champion, cruised into a 5-1 lead in the first-round match at Alexandra Palace, only for Walden to hit back and win three frames in a row.

But O`Sullivan completed victory by taking the 10th frame, with a fluke on a yellow allowing him to make a 116 clearance and equal Hendry`s record on the Scot`s 46th birthday.

"You go chasing records and you end up doing it on a fluke!" O`Sullivan said. "I`d had a bit of run through the match and thought `I could fluke this one.`"

Hendry, analysing the game for the BBC, said: "It was a matter of time."

O`Sullivan will now play Hong Kong`s Marco Fu, who recorded a 147 clearance in his first-round win over Stuart Bingham.

Meanwhile, the evening session saw Ali Carter secure an emotional 6-1 victory over Barry Hawkins in his first competitive match since being given the all-clear from lung cancer.