Seven-times champion Stephen Hendry lost 13-11 to Shaun Murphy in their World Championship quarter-final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, yesterday.

Murphy, who won the title in 2005, was on the receiving end of a maximum 147 break by the Scottish great during Tuesday's opening session.

But the Englishman fought back to build a 9-7 overnight lead and yesterday he finished the match with a century.

Hendry, whose 147 came in the seventh frame, admitted: "Ever since I made the maximum my concentration was nowhere."

Turning to Murphy, who four years ago won the title as a qualifier, Hendry added: "He's a fantastic player and could well win it.

"When he won it the first time nobody expected him to win it. So there maybe wasn't the same pressure on him then.

"Now his game has changed and he's a better player."

Murphy said being on the receiving end of a 147 had ultimately helped his own cause.

"I'm not sure what the statistics are but I'm not convinced people who make maximums then go on to win many of their matches," he explained.

"I think a little bit of the pressure was taken off me there.

"The crowd gave him a massive reception as soon as the black went in and rightly so, we all gave him a massive ovation."

Murphy, who won the next frame after Hendry's 147 to be only 5-3 down at the end of the first session, added: "There were shouts from the audience (to Hendry) of 'same again please' and 'only the best will do', which only puts pressure on."

Other results: Allen bt Day 13-11; Robertson bt Maguire 13-8.