Cardiff (Wales), Jan 26: Crowds were treated to a feast of high-class snooker Friday night as an inspired Stephen Hendry stormed into the semifinals of the 2002 Regal Welsh with a 5-2 defeat of John Higgins.

It was undoubtably the best match of the tournament so far as Higgins made no more than a handful of mistakes but was repeatedly punished by fellow-Scot Hendry, who gave a performance reminiscent of the mid-1990s when he was the supreme power in the game.

World No 5 Hendry announced his return to form by winning the European Open in Malta in December, and the consistency which has been lacking in recent seasons seems to have returned.

He has now won five of the last six meetings with No 3 Higgins and 13 out of 21 overall. He meets Ken Doherty in the semifinals tomorrow and has his sights firmly set on a third Regal Welsh title.

Hendry looked set to take the opening frame but missed a tricky final green to the centre pocket on 54 and Higgins cleared to the pink. The younger man looked set to go 2-0 up when a 59 left his opponent needing a snooker, but he failed to hit the yellow when trapped behind the black and Hendry cleared with 27 to level.

It was a similar story in frame three as Higgins made 63 before missing a red along the side cushion and Hendry mopped up brilliantly with 50. The next was far more one-sided as seven-times world champion Hendry put together a superb 134 total clearance to tie the highest break of the tournament so far and go 3-1 up. Higgins pulled one back after the interval with 73 but he went in-off attempting safety in the next and Hendry took advantage with 65 to go two up with three to play.

A black which rattled in the jaws of the corner pocket in frame seven proved to be Higgins’ last shot as Hendry wrapped it up with 69 – the eighth break over 50 in the match.

Result:

FIRST ROUND: John Higgins (Scot) bt Ali Carter (Eng) 5-0; Stephen Hendry (Scot) bt Steve Davis (Eng) 5-1; Ken Doherty (Rep of Ire) bt James Wattana (Thai) 5-2; Joe Perry (Eng) bt Alan McManus (Scot) 5-0; Fergal O’Brien (Rep of Ire) bt Marcus Campbell (Scot) 5-2; Graeme Dott (Scot) bt Rory McLeod (Eng) 5-3; Joe Swail (N Ire) bt Mark Selby (Eng) 5-1; Jamie Burnett (Scot) bt Dave Harold (Eng) 5-3; Paul Hunter (Eng) bt Alfie Burden (Eng) 5-3; Ronnie O’Sullivan (Eng) bt Ian McCulloch (Eng) 5-4; Brian Morgan (Eng) bt Stephen Lee (Eng) 5-4; Jimmy White (Eng) bt Tony Drago (Malta) 5-4; Matthew Stevens (Wal) bt Anthony Davies (Wal) 5-1; Mark King (Eng) bt Rod Lawler (Eng) 5-2; Peter Ebdon (Eng) bt Chris Small (Scot) 5-2; Mark Williams (Wal) bt Barry Pinches (Eng) 5-3