Former world champion Stephen Hendry fought his way back from the brink of defeat to beat Northern Ireland's Mark Allen 10-9 in the opening round of the world snooker championship at the Crucible.

In a desperately tense clash, Hendry, the world No8, clawed back a 6-3 opening-session deficit only to fall behind again as Allen opened up a 9-7 lead to move within touching distance of victory. But a desperate rearguard action brought Hendry level again at 9-9, and from there he held his nerve to take the final frame 76-0 and book a place in the second round.

For Hendry, seven times a winner at the Crucible, victory was particularly welcome after his comprehensive defeat at the hands of Allen, the former world amateur champion, at December's UK Championship. He will now face either China's Ding Junhui or Marco Fu, of Hong Kong, in the last 16.

Allen, however, is left to rue a loss that looked far from likely when he stood within two pots of a second-round berth in the 18th frame. Nor will he recall the final frame, in which he went in-off when potting the opening red, with any great pleasure.

It was a bad end to an afternoon that began in similarly inauspicious vein for the 22-year-old, who made errors to concede each of the first three frames.

Although he subsequently regained his composure to claim the 13th frame and lead 7-6 at the mid-session interval before making it 8-6 with a run of 89, Hendry reduced the deficit with a 65 and responded to the loss of the next frame by levelling at 9-9 when Allen missed a pink to the middle pocket.

The middle pocket again proved the Northern Irishman's nemesis in the final frame, Allen potting the white after putting away a long red before Hendry, reaping full benefit, secured a break of 72 to seal the win.