It is appropriate, in terms of chronology and experience, to describe Stephen Hendry as a veteran of the sport. The Scot, a professional for 23 years, is 39 and a father of two. His eldest son, Blaine, competed in the Pontins Under-11 Championship this week, but Hendry Sr insists that the generation game is not up.

In the three years since Hendry's most recent tournament win, the 2005 Malta Cup, he has become increasingly irked by those who write him off as at best a fading force, at worst a pale shadow of the dominant force of the 1990s who conquered all and sundry. Hendry continues to practise diligently. He is using a new cue and employing a new coach, Chris Henry, in an attempt at revitalisation and his labours bore satisfying fruit when he beat Stephen Lee 5-2 in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open in Newport yesterday.

“I've never once thought I'm finished. I still believe in myself totally and I'm motivated to win things again,” Hendry said, having reached his 80th world-ranking event semi-final but first since the UK Championship in December 2006.

“The standard of the top players isn't any better than when I was world No1 and winning all of those tournaments. The difference is the strength in depth. There are more players regularly producing good stuff these days but I know I've still got it in me.” Hendry, who won the inaugural staging of the Welsh Open in 1992 and is hoping to capture the title for a record fourth time, compiled an 89 break in establishing a 3-0 lead before Lee, runner-up in the Saga Masters at Wembley last month, rallied.

Into gear with a run of 96 in the fourth frame, Lee fought back to 3-2 but his momentum dissipated in the sixth when, having been presented with a bona fide scoring opportunity, he overcut a routine black from its spot. Hendry gratefully pounced with a 55 break and progressed without further alarm.

No player in the sport's history possesses a more formidable reputation than Hendry but, in terms of confidence, no amount of success in the past can equal that of more recent vintage. Hence, he will be fully extended to beat Mark Selby this afternoon.

Selby, 24, came of age when he impressively beat Lee 10-3 to win the Saga Masters, and yesterday recorded a 5-2 win over John Higgins, the world champion. Breaks of 71, 67 and a clinical 101 in the closing frame, allied to several cleanly struck pots under pressure, enabled Selby to reverse the outcome when he played Higgins in the Crucible final nine months ago.

“Right now I honestly think that only [Ronnie] O'Sullivan is capable of stopping Mark in Sheffield if he carries on like this,” Higgins said. “He's improved so much since last year. He's a complete player and you can't help being very impressed by him.”

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