Hendry a local hero at last

did the next best thing yesterday with a crushing 10-1 win over Terry

Griffiths, the man who had humbled Davis in the semi-final.

The 20-year-old Hendry, anxious to win an international tournament in

his home country for the first time, achieved that ambition in the

Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre with one of his best displays.

With a victory already in last month's Asian Open, which took Hendry

above Davis to a provisional No.1 place in the rankings, the first prize

of #32,500 at this event took the Scot's earnings for the embryonic

season to more than #84,000.

The victorious Scot said: ''I'm very satisfied. For me to beat Terry

that convincingly, I'm delighted with the way I'm playing. And it gave

me a great buzz to win here.''

The young man from South Queensferry, a well known Hearts supporter,

commented also that his favourite team had gone top of the premier

division this weekend. ''What a double,'' he said.

The foundations for this spectacular success were laid in a

devastating first session yesterday afternoon, when the Scot took all

eight frames.

In previous rounds, Hendry had been potting well, although usually

requiring more than one visit in order to clinch frames in his victories

against Mike Hallett and John Parrott, whereas Griffiths, perhaps had

been more convincing in beating Jimmy White and then Davis.

Hendry had no break higher than 39 in racing to a 3-0 lead but he was

able to create more openings than Griffiths. Even a 40 break in the

third frame was not enough for the Welshman as the Scot cleared up with

26 to add to an earlier run of 29.

The shape of things to come was signalled in the fourth frame, which

Hendry won with a break of 60. As in the opening frame, Griffiths

conceded with at least one red left on the table.

After the interval Hendry moved into top gear and his brilliance

became the main feature instead of mostly unforced errors by his

opponent. Runs of 74 and 97 were followed by a 95 clearance in the

seventh frame after Griffiths had compiled a useful break of 44.

The world No.5, struggling to salvage something from the afternoon's

final frame, was put under pressure immediately when the young Scot had

a break of 46 and, with Griffiths already requiring a snooker, Hendry

stepped in to pot two of the three remaining reds to take an 8-0 lead

into last night's session.

Hendry had a 39 in the ninth and the Welshman faced the dilemma when

trailing 63-22 with only two reds remaining. He was forced to take the

blue after the final red, knowing he could only tie when he potted the

remaining colours in a 41 clearance.

The fates still seemed to be against Griffiths when he lost the toss

and was given first hit at the respotted black, but fortune smiled on

him for once when Hendry fouled by potting the cue ball in the yellow

pocket.

Griffiths could have enjoyed better luck in the tenth when, after the

Scot had compiled a 55, the Welshman was left needing two snookers with

one red remaining. Instead it was Hendry who got the snookers.

The 41-year-old from Barry Port broke off for the final time and more

excitement was to follow in Hendry's first visit to the table. The #3500

prize for the highest break destined for John Parrott for a 134 came

under threat as Hendry stepped in to compile a total clearance of 132 to

lift the title with style after a final that had lasted just over

two-and-a-half hours of play.

With a runner's-up cheque of #16,000 to console him, Griffiths said:

''He was very impressive after going 4-0 up. But he always is, isn't

he?''