Summary Ronnie O'Sullivan equalled Stephen Hendry's all-time record of 775 century breaks.
LONDON (AFP) - 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.
