Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry stunned world number four Neil Robertson to march into the second round of the Welsh Open on Tuesday night.

Hendry, who dropped out of the top 16 earlier this season, rolled back the years with a vintage display to take the best-of-seven tie 4-1.

The Scot posted a solid break of 62 to take the first frame but Robertson levelled in the next with a superb 135 total clearance.

However, Hendry took a 2-1 lead after a tightly-fought second frame was decided by a respotted black, and then rattled off breaks of 67 and 86 to wrap up the victory.

“I haven’t had much success against the top players in the last few years,” said Hendry, who will face Mark Allen in the last 16. Allen beat Ken Doherty 4-0 yesterday.

“I just played well and when you do that you can compete. If you don’t you’ve got no chance,” he added.

World number one Mark Selby got a huge let-off as he overcame the unfancied Sam Baird 4-3 in the opening round in Newport.

A missed blue off the spot with two balls left cost Baird the sixth frame and a 4-2 victory, and Selby then took the seventh after a nervous finish.

German Masters winner Ronnie O’Sullivan launched his bid to win back-to-back ranking events on a sound footing after seeing off Marco Fu 4-1 yesterday.