Seven-time champion Stephen Hendry rolled back the years to chalk up the first 147 maximum break of the 2009 World Championships to take an early lead over Shaun Murphy.

Hendry, 40, bidding to reach an unprecedented 12th semi final at the Crucible, finished the first session 5-3 to the good, ahead of the 2005 champion in the race to 13 frames.

But it was in the seventh frame of the day where Hendry showed his true quality, hitting the tenth 147 of his career to collect ?147,000 for his trouble.

It was also the second century break by Hendry in the match and his fourth of the tournament. The current world number six will resume the match in tonight's second session with his nose in front.

It was Murphy who claimed a scrappy opening frame but it was Hendry who hit his straps first and posted a break of 117 to level proceedings.

Both players again failed to find their rhythm but Hendry was able to dig deeper to pick up the next three frames to take a 4-1 lead before Murphy reduced the deficit to two.

That buoyed Hendry and he was in impeccable form as he hit only his second maximum break at the World Championships, before Murphy kept himself in contention with a break of 73 to take the final frame of the session.