Stephen Hendry was put to the sword by Mark Selby at the Crucible last night.

The seven-time world champion was handed the kind of lesson he has dished out for the last 26 years at the Betfred.com World Championship.

Selby smashed in a record six centuries as he surged into a 12-4 lead in Sheffield - needing just one more today for victory.

That topped the record he had previously shared with Hendry, John Higgins, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Matthew Stevens.

But the ton of pain didn't end there for the 42-year-old Scot, for whom this could yet be a last hurrah.

Hendry has hinted at retirement in the summer, an announcement that could even come today.

And he also saw 'Leicester Jester' Selby equal his own 1995 record for the most centuries made in a season (53).

As if that was not bad enough, Selby snatched the final frame of the day after having to find FIVE snookers.

In the end a disgusted Hendry was just relieved to get out of the arena. And he could yet see his prized top-16 place disappear, a factor in his big career decision, if Stuart Bingham beats Ding Junhui.

New tournament favourite Selby said: "I knew I had made five at the Crucible before, and it's great to have the record outright but the match is still not over, which is the important thing.

"If I had the record and then lost the match from here, I'd be devastated. You'd probably take 13 70 breaks all day long to win."

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Shaun Murphy face a shootout today in the final session of their best-of-25 frame last-16 clash.

The Rocket let a four-frame lead slip and allowed 2005 world champion Murphy back into the contest at 9-7 down.

World No.1 John Higgins last night became the latest victim of Rory McLeod's go-slow tactics.

Scot Higgins, 35, was driven to distraction in a dour struggle, but takes a 10-5 lead into this afternoon's finale.

The pair were hauled off a frame early in the morning session, with threetime champion Higgins 5-2 ahead but clearly rattled.

And when the first two of the evening both went to Qatar-based McLeod at over 40 minutes apiece, a late finish became inevitable.

But Higgins rallied to win the last four frames of the night, and now needs just three more to reach the quarterfinals.