Stephen Hendry’s tickled pink with his Crucible 147

Stephen Hendry made a maximum 147 break in the quarter-finals of the World Championship today and put himself in line for a £157,000 bonus.

The Scot's clearance saw him take a 5-2 lead against Shaun Murphy and was his second at The Crucible, the last coming against Jimmy White 14 years ago.

After potting a tricky pink, Hendry was still left with another difficult shot and the black wobbled in the jaws of the pocket before dropping in.

He said: "It's a tremendous feeling and I'm absolutely delighted."

The 40-year-old will receive the six-figure bonus providing no one else manages a 147 as happened last year when Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter shared the prize money after both achieved the feat. Sponsors Betfred will also pay £147,000 to the Sport Relief charity.

Hendry now has nine career 147s to his name, the same as O'Sullivan, although the Englishman has made three maximum clearances in Sheffield.

Hendry, who is bidding for an eighth world title, and his first since 1999, lost the opening frame today from 47-0 up but a break of 117 in the next brought him level at 1-1.

Murphy, 26, blundered in the fourth frame when he missed a black after putting together a run of 61, and Hendry cleared up in two scoring visits to pull clear of his rival.