KING HENDRY IS BACK IN BUZZNESS
STEPHEN HENDRY insists it is a craving to feel the buzz of competition once more that has driven him back to snooker.
The 52-year-old, a record seven-time world champion, plays his first tour match for almost nine years this evening against good friend Matt Selt.
For the final years of his illustrious career, the Scot chased in vain the ‘King Hendry The Eighth’ headlines at the Crucible. This time around the goals are more modest, with a legend widely hailed as a pioneer for his attacking approach by the likes of Ronnie O’sullivan looking just to compete.
Having accepted a wildcard from snooker supremo Barry Hearn in early September, a series of false starts mean it has taken six months for the big day to arrive.
But Hendry (right) hopes the Gibraltar Open, in a temporary home in Milton Keynes behind closed doors, will be perfect preparation for
World Championship qualifiers and a possible path back the Crucible.
He said: “I want to enjoy playing snooker again, it is all I know. My game is all about scoring heavily. If I can keep doing that, then it will be nice.
“Maybe cause a couple of upsets, that would be fun, and play well on a match table.
“I miss the atmosphere. I have been out of it a long time but I don’t think I will ever stop missing that buzz of walking out there into the arena.” And on the Snooker
Scene podcast, he added: “When you are out there for the BBC before a match, I still want a cue in my hand and that is one of the reasons I accepted the wildcard.
“The goal is to get back to the Crucible. Obviously, things are different at the moment with no fans.
“But if it is possible to get out there at the Crucible and play a match against one of the best players in a full arena again, to experience that once more, it would have been worth coming back.”
GLENN MURRAY says he is happy being a short-term gun for hire at Nottingham Forest.
The former Brighton striker teamed up again with ex-seagulls boss Chris Hughton in January.
The 37-year-old has chipped in two goals during a Forest turnaround which now sees them 11 points clear of the drop zone going into tonight’s clash with Luton.
Murray said: “The gaffer gave me an opportunity to come and play football for a great club, in Nottingham Forest.
“It’s 12 weeks’ work that I’m going to enjoy as much as I possibly can, playing football at my age.
“What happens after that, we’ll see.
“At the minute, I feel great but I might go out tomorrow and something might go wrong, who knows?
“So far, so good. I’m sure we’ll sit down and speak about the future when the time is right.”