You’re still a Higg-time player
Hendry’s message to fellow Scot after another agonising final defeat
STEPHEN HENDRY has urged fellow Scot John Higgins to keep the faith he’ll end his silverware struggles.
The 46-year-old has suffered heartache in eight of his last nine finals.
Sunday’s 10-4 Champion of Champions humbling at the hands of winning machine Judd Trump was the latest frustration.
The Wizard of Wishaw is undoubtedly one of snooker’s all-time greats, showing his vintage class to reach three big finals this season despite agonisingly failing to add to his trophy collection.
And Higgins has shed four stone in an effort to prolong his career at the top level.
Only Hendry, on 36, and Ronnie O’Sullivan, one better on 37, have won more ranking titles than Higgins’ 31.
The Rocket even lost all five ranking finals he reached last season following his stunning sixth world title in 2020.
York plays host to the UK Championship from today as Higgins looks to add to his three triumphs in the tournament.
Seven-time Crucible champion Hendry said: “John’s got to take the positives because he’s got another big tournament with the UKs. He’s playing really well.
“He came up against the best player in the world and there’s no disgrace in losing. But John wants wins. He’ll be looking at the season ahead hoping to get that win.
“John’s obviously disappointed. It’s three finals in a row, it’s not an accolade he’s interested in. All of his career all he’s been interested in is wins, not being runner-up.”
Higgins let commanding 8-6 leads slip as he suffered 9-8 defeats to Mark Allen and Neil Robertson in the Northern Ireland and English Open finals respectively.
And the Scot admitted he “didn’t have it at this level” after his gut-wrenching loss to Robertson in Milton Keynes.
Hendry, who took the game to new heights in the 1990s, has lost seven of his last 10 ranking finals and failed to reach a showpiece in the six years before he initially retired in 2012.
He said: “It’s a long season and John’s going to be there or thereabouts. Other players won’t think he’s lost any belief.”
Higgins starts his UK Championship bid against Michael Georgiou tonight before five-time champion Hendry, 52, takes on Thepchaiya Un-Nooh tomorrow. Stephen Maguire, the 2004 winner, Anthony McGill and Scott Donaldson are in action today.