No fairytale title for Hendry back at the Crucible
Stephen Hendry
Stephen Hendry saw his hopes of a fairytale World Seniors Championship title ended by arch-rival Jimmy White yesterday.
The seven-time world champion was beaten 4-2 by the Whirlwind in a nostalgic semi-final showdown at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.
And with defeat, 51-year-old Hendry, who famously beat White in four world finals at the Crucible, missed out on the opportunity to win his first title for 15 years and the chance to earn a wildcard entry to this season’s prestigious Champion of Champions tournament. Hendry pocketed breaks of 64 and 52, but defending champion White had runs of 130 and 55 to earn a secondsuccessive final place.
A 36-time ranking event winner, Hendry had a chance to force a deciding frame. But he missed an easy blue to a middle pocket and White pounced to dump the Scot out.
Hendry said: “It was a disappointing match for me. I didn’t get off to a good start.
“I wasn’t able to play like I have in my other matches.
“Jimmy is just a little sharper than me. He’s played more matches than me and still playing on the tour.
“But that’s not an excuse. Jimmy played better than me.
“I’ve just got to put more work in. Things are going well and I just need to feel more comfortable out there.
“As Paul Newman said in the ‘The Colour of Money’, I’ll beat him next time. And if not, then the time after that.”
White, who first played Hendry in 1986 and has faced the Scot 60 times during his career, admitted: “It’s always great to beat Stephen because he’s such a great competitor and a great battler.
“Now he’s playing well again it’s even more difficult. But it’s great to see Stephen practising and back playing well again.
“He’s going to be a big part of the Seniors for the next five or six years.
“Make no mistake, he’ll be back trying to get his revenge.
“Like Ronnie O’sullivan and John Higgins, Stephen is one of the best disher-uppers in the game,” reflected White.
“Luckily he missed a blue in that last frame and I took my chance to win.”
Hendry retired from the professional circuit in 2012 despite making his third maximum 147 break at the Crucible.