Stephen Hendry blocked from playing last World Snooker Championship by strict rules
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry was dominant during the 1990s.
Stephen Hendry was not permitted to have one last crack at winning an eighth World Snooker Championship due to his work commitments in China. The 55-year-old retired for a second time back in June, closing the curtain on an underwhelming comeback following eight years out of the game.
Hendry was the man to beat during the 1990s, winning all seven of his world titles in one decade, and going on a scintillating streak of five in a row between 1992 and 1996.
He walked away from the baize for the first time in 2012, and only won three out of 20 professional contests in his recent four-year comeback. During that time, Hendry admits he would have loved to return to the Crucible, where he made so many memorable moments during his heyday.
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However, strict rules around his work in China prevented him from doing so. "I would have liked to have had the option to just even play in the World Championship, but unfortunately the rules don’t allow it," Hendry told the Daily Record.
"I would have liked to have had a tour card this year. There’s obviously been a lot of talk about whether me and Ken (Doherty) deserve wildcards, but I won’t go into that.
"But ultimately I’m doing a lot of stuff in China that involves live-streaming, and the rules dictate you can’t play in some tournaments while that is going on.
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"I’m so busy with my YouTube channel and obviously TV work, that’s my priority. There’s eight tournaments a season for my TV work, plus I’ll be coming over to China three or four months a year. There’s just really no point (in me trying to play)."
Looking back on the last few years of his career, Hendry concedes that his lacklustre showings were painful for him to endure. He continued: "The less said about my performances last season the better!
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"The worst thing about it is that I want to hurt myself when I’m playing snooker these days. And that’s never a good feeling to have. (It’s going to be tough) unless you’re going to put the work in – and that’s something I didn’t even do to give myself a chance. But, you know, we move on and do other things."
Hendry has been reeled in by Ronnie O'Sullivan after Crucible triumphs in 2020 and 2022, leaving them on seven world titles apiece. It remains to be seen whether the 48-year-old Rocket can pull clear of the Scot and establish himself as the undisputed GOAT.
