Stephen Hendry came close to denying maximum man John Higgins the full share of his stg£25,000 cash bonus during his 5-0 defeat of Joe Perry at the British Open in Brighton tonight.
Higgins became the first player in snooker history to make 147 breaks in successive matches on Wednesday. But Hendry had a chance to scoop stg£12,500 when he potted 10 reds and 10 blacks in the fifth frame of his third round match.
The 11th red failed to find its target, though, and Hendry looked crestfallen, despite completing a whitewash in just 70 minutes.
"I'm gutted because it was a great chance," the seven-times world champion said afterwards.
Hendry was presented with a succession of chances as Perry, whom he beat 9-2 in the 2001 European Open final, struggled to find any form.
The Scot won the first frame on the black and made breaks of 77, 32 and 41 before his 80 in the fifth carried him through to a quarter-final meeting with Higgins.
Hendry first won the British Open in 1988 and claimed the title again in 1991 and 1999.
His last major title came in Cardiff last January when he triumphed at the Regal Welsh Open.
He started the current campaign in disappointing fashion, losing 5-3 to Michael Holt in the LG Cup.
But the doubts about his new cue, which he is using after his previous model was smashed by careless Heathrow baggage handlers, were dispelled when he fired in two centuries during his 5-2 victory over Dominic Dale in the last 32 in Brighton.
Hendry has beaten Higgins 14 times in their 23 meetings, including his 10-9 victory in a classic 1996 UK Championship final.
PA