DAVE Harold crashed out of the totesport.com Welsh Open last night after a comprehensive defeat to seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry.

The Trent Vale potter was thumped 5-1 at the Newport Centre after Hendry turned on the style in their first-round clash.

Breaks of 84, 113, 62 and 75 saw Hendry race into a 4-0 lead and the Scot never looked back, despite Harold pinching the first frame after the interval.

A further break of 72 did the trick as Hendry closed out the match in quick time to earn himself a second round showdown with Welshman Ryan Day today (Wednesday).

"Stephen was mesmerising," reflected Harold. "I don't think he can play any better than that.

"It was the like the Hendry of old – he was brilliant. It was vintage stuff from him.

"There was nothing I could do. I didn't have any chances in the first three frames.

"Stephen's won two frames off my break. You just have to take your hat off to him, because he played really well.

"It's disappointing because it's my first tournament for a long time and I didn't do 've not done much wrong.

"I felt I was hitting the ball well, but when your opponent doesn't give you a chance, there's not much you can do."

Hendry was the better starter, and a break of 84 saw him win the opening frame.

And it got even better from the Perthshire potter as he compiled a match-high break of 113 in the next frame to double his advantage.

A run of 62 made it 3-0 and then a break of 75 saw the Scot cruise to a 4-0 lead at the mid-session interval.

Harold hit back immediately after the resumption to reduce the arrears, but Hendry completed victory with a break of 72 in the sixth and deciding frame.

"He was devastating, to be honest," added Harold.

"I was looking forward to playing him, because I've got a good record against him.

"He's not been in the best of form so I fancied my chances, but it's just one of those matches where I got outplayed."

Longton cueman Jamie Cope gets his Welsh Open campaign under way today corr against Chinese cueman Ding Junhui, the new UK champion, at 1pm.