I’m still hungry to win – even if I’m playing tiddlywinks
Hendry’s shock comeback is no publicity stunt
Stephen Hendry has nothing to prove, yet the allconquering Scot still has a burning ambition to once again shine at the top level.
Hendry shocked the snooker world in midweek by announcing he was coming out of retirement after eight years to accept a two- year invitational tour card to play on the professional circuit.
And, although winning tournaments is a dream scenario, the seven-time world champion admits he’s focused on enjoying the special atmosphere of playing at major events again, and trying to rediscover his undoubted class.
“I’m not putting any pressure on myself,” stressed the 51-year-old.
“But that competitiveness will always be rumbling underneath. I don’t think you ever lose that as a top sportsman.
“Wh e t h e r you a re playing tiddlywinks or your chosen sport, you are always going to have that competitive instinct.
“I’m not going to lie. If I don’t perform, it is going to disappoint me, but this is a different situation.
“Back just before I retired, I was seen as someone that should possibly still win – and I couldn’t.
“Now I am a total underdog, and I am just going to see what happens.
“If I do play well and start going deeper into tournaments, I will have to deal with that pressure.” Hendry bowed out at the 2012 World Championship in Sheffield, announcing his retirement at the iconic Crucible Theatre after a 13-2 quarter-final demolition at the hands of compatriot, Stephen Maguire. But that was not before the illustrious Scot had pocketed a magical maximum 147 break in a 10- 4 win over Stuart Bingham, and then hammered John Higgins 13- 4 in the second round of snooker’s premier tournament. Common sense means his best years are undoubtedly behind him. But Hendry was a hungry winner in his pomp, and still has plenty to offer on the green baize.
And when he’s not commentating for the BBC at major tournaments, the Perthshire potter wants to give his loyal supporters something to smile about.
He has been working with Steve Feeney, a respected coach credited with resurrecting Mark Williams’ career and helping him win a third world title aged 43 – and 15 years after his second Crucible crown.
In Hendry, there has never been a more dominant force in snooker.
He won five world titles and five Masters titles in a row, feats never achieved by anyone else in the history of the sport.
Arguably, he is the most relentless winner snooker has ever seen.
It was only last month that Ronnie O’sullivan ( left) bettered Hendry’s record of 36 ranking titles when he won a sixthworld Championship crown.
But Hendry still holds the record for world titles – and he’s got the bug back again having played in the World Senior Championships, held at the Crucible, last month.
“There were a few occasions where I was on autopilot, and it was all happening,” reflected Hendry.
“There were a few frames where I just started flowing and scoring. That is what my game is all about, getting in early and winning in one visit.
“But the buzz of playing snooker in front of a packed audience is what it’s all about. I’ve always missed that buzz. As a sportsman, that never leaves you.
“Working as a pundit at all of these events, there is that atmosphere – but you are never playing.
“I’m always jealous of the players that are going out into the arena.
“The ultimate goal is to walk out at the Crucible again, but that is a long way off.
“I am trying to dumb it down a bit as the comeback isn’t about winning eight world titles. It isn’t a full- time comeback, and it certainly isn’t a publicity stunt.
“I am going to play in some events and see what happens. I hope that people can keep their expectations, like mine, a little bit lower.
“There’s no point in coming back and embarrassing myself and getting beat. It could happen, but that’s not in my thoughts.”