Stephen Hendry says he "bottled it" after missing out on an eighth world snooker title to England's Peter Ebdon.

The Scot missed a couple chances to wrap the match up in a dramatic, final-frame finish at the Crucible in Sheffield.

He was full of praise for the 18-17 winner but admitted: "I never thought the day would come when I'd have to say I bottled the chance to win the world championships.

"I had two good chances in that last frame and the concentration was not what it should have been.

"But, take nothing away from Peter, he played strong match snooker throughout and his game is a lot stronger than when I beat him in the 1996 final.

"I am obviously disappointed now, but I've been happy with the way I've played in this last fortnight and I will bounce back after a few days."

One consolation for Hendry was that he set a new tournament record of 16 centuries, beating the previous best of countryman John Higgins in 1998.

A high-quality final saw both players chalk up four centuries apiece before that gripping finale in which Ebdon held his nerve better at the final hurdle.