By his own admission he “got out of jail” against Joe Perry today as he won 10-9 in the first round.

He headed into the match knowing that defeat would knock him out of the top 16, where he has been a mainstay since 1988.

The prospect of that, meaning him having to play qualifying rounds for the ranking events, has never appealed to the man who made his World Championship debut 25 years ago.

And he accepts it will become tougher to stay in the elite group, so will consider his future once his run in Sheffield is over.

Hendry said: “If I win this thing I might still contemplate retirement.

“I’ve got a big decision to make at the end of the season.”

The 42-year-old also won a final-frame decider in his opening match against Zhang Anda last year.

This time he thought Perry would finish him off, when he had a chance in the deciding from 53-1 behind.

“I thought Joe was going to clear up,” Hendry said.

“I didn’t expect to get back to the table so I was very relieved.

“I got out of jail a bit today and that puts you in a good frame of mind for the rest of the tournament.”

Perry left the final brown over a corner pocket. It was match ball, and Hendry seized on the chance.

“I love it out there. My pipe and slippers are out there. I walk past them every time when I walk in,” Hendry said.

There was a false alarm 11 days ago when Ronnie O’Sullivan told organisers he would not be turning up to the Crucible.

The three-time winner reversed that decision 24 hours later and today served up a reminder of why the tournament needs him as he twice threatened to plunder a maximum 147 break.

Watched by his friend, the artist Damien Hirst, at times O’Sullivan played kamikaze snooker. But mostly the three-time champion was brilliant as he developed a 7-2 lead over Dominic Dale, the Vienna-based Welshman.

In the process O’Sullivan made his 100th century at the Crucible, a 113 break in the eighth frame.

The runs he went on in the second and seventh frames almost brought the packed crowd to its feet.

He rattled in eight reds and blacks in his first maximum attempt, but luck deserted the 35-year-old off the ninth red. He sent the white into baulk and out before it flicked a middle knuckle. The black was unavailable, and O’Sullivan soon finished on 78.

The next opportunity looked certain to bring about O’Sullivan’s 11th career 147, and his fourth at the Crucible. The balls were ideally placed, but after reaching 96 he ran slightly out of position and bounced the 13th red around the jaws of the far corner pocket.

Such misses would have been costly in previous years, but the £147,000 bonus for a maximum has been scrapped in a cost-saving move this time.

The presence of O’Sullivan had brought a buzz to the Crucible, even though he has struggled for form this season.

World Snooker chief Barry Hearn was thankful the sport’s biggest entertainer had joined him in South Yorkshire.

“I’d miss Ronnie. I want to see the real Ronnie. He’s a special person,” Hearn said.

“I love the boy to death. He’s a fabulous snooker player. Rather than people say to me, ’Do you have a problem with Ronnie O’Sullivan?’, I wish I had 10 Ronnie O’Sullivans.”

Earlier in the day, China’s Ding Junhui, who lives in Sheffield during the season, clinched his place in the second round with a 10-2 victory at the expense of Scotland’s Jamie Burnett.

“Hopefully I can win this (one day),” Ding said.

“It feels good here. I get support from the Chinese students here and from the Sheffield supporters.

“How confident am I? I’m a favourite but I’m not favourite to win.”