My game just isn’t ready for the Crucible
HENDRY’S VERDICT AFTER WIN OVER WHITE
STEPHEN Hendry has dismissed his chances of a return to the Crucible this year, despite reaching the second round of qualifying at the expense of old foe Jimmy White.
The 52-year-old Scot will resume his unlikely quest against China’s Xu Si tonight, with three further hurdles to overcome if he is to book his place back at the scene of his record seven world titles.
But after his arduous 6-3 win over White, Hendry admitted: ‘On this evidence, my game isn’t ready. I think next year I would be more realistic about my chances.
‘In the next round, I could play a lot better but I don’t think my game is quite ready to win four tough matches to get to the Crucible yet.
‘Hopefully, if I can keep getting better and keep improving, my technique becomes reliable then next year will be the goal to get back to the Crucible.’
It was a candid admission of his shortcomings in what was only his second professional match since returning from a nine-year absence, with defeat to Matthew Selt in the first round of the Gibraltar Open last month.
Hendry’s undoubted high point was a 66 clearance in the sixth frame which was reminiscent of the dominant days when he used to torment White.
The Englishman now faces a decision about continuing on the tour following his latest sorry display.
Other results this week are likely to leave White needing to go to Q School or else rely on a likely wild card from World Snooker Tour chiefs.
But the 58-year-old, who described his display as ‘horrendous’, is unsure whether he will take up the offer.
‘He (Hendry) knew I was struggling,’ shrugged White. ‘All he had to do was to pick me off. I was all over the office. He did what he had to do. He’s playing better than that and can improve — unfortunately for me, I can’t. ‘To come into the match and then to play like that is really frustrating and demoralising. ‘I can’t really think about what I’m going to do at the moment. ‘I’m just going to wait and see how the results go in the next few days, and then make a decision.’ Hendry, for his part, stands a reasonable chance against world No82 Xu. He is ranked only one place above White in the current rankings, but the Scot would face an immense task in round three against another Chinese star, the qualifying top seed Zhou Yuelong.
Hendry added: ‘I will be a huge underdog whoever I end up playing in this qualifying.
‘I have just got to enjoy the process of getting my game back to somewhere where I think I can win matches.
‘It was nice to win in my second match out. There will be doubters out there who will say it was Jimmy White, who has not won many matches, but I don’t care. I know how exactly good Jimmy is.
‘I will try to keep expectations low but, the animal that I am, if I start to get some good form, then the expectations will rise.
‘At the moment, it is all about trying to get back to playing some good snooker.’