Stephen Hendry has targeted a return to the world's top eight and believes he can take his practice table form into snooker's top arenas.

By Rex Symons

Stephen Hendry has targeted a return to the world's top eight and believes he can take his practice table form into snooker's top arenas.

The 40-year-old Scot came through his first-round test at the Glasgow Grand Prix, firing in a 116 break and runs of 58, 72 and 47 in his 5-2 victory over England's Matthew Selt.

Hendry looked to be recovering his best form at the World Championship in April, only to lose his focus after a maximum 147 break in his quarter-final against eventual runner-up Shaun Murphy.

He then suffered a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Ricky Walden in round two of the Shanghai Masters last month, but seven-time world champion Hendry is quietly optimistic he can improve on his current 10th position in the world rankings.

Discussing the win over Selt at the Kelvin Hall, Hendry said: "I was pretty comfortable.

"I played one or two bad shots. My concentration was very good, and I just stayed focused. The job in the first round is to win the game - it's not about looking good or playing your best. There's plenty of time to do that.

"I am playing well in practice, and my goal for this season is to replicate that form where it matters. If I do that I can break back into the top eight."

Hendry's fellow veteran Peter Ebdon joined him in the last 16, knocking out Shanghai Masters runner-up Liang Wenbo.

Liang had beaten 39-year-old Ebdon during his run in Shanghai, but the Englishman took his revenge - winning 5-2 despite dropping the first two frames.

World No.3 Murphy became the biggest casualty of the first round when he crashed out against Barry Pinches.

Norfolk potter Pinches, the world No.52, knocked out the former world champion 5-4.