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Metro
5 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty disagree on most underrated snooker player ever
Former world champions Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty have picked players they consider the most underrated, and both chose men who narrowly missed out on Crucible glory. Hendry reckons the player he beat in four World Championship finals does not always get the credit he deserves. Jimmy White lost six Crucible finals in total, also beaten by Steve Davis and John Parrott in the sport's biggest game, and Hendry feels the Whirlwind is unfairly remembered for his defeats rather than his brilliance. A 10-time ranking event winner and a Masters champion, Hendry also feels White continuing to play a long time past his peak means people can forget how good he was in his pomp. 'Underrated, it's quite a tough category but I'm going to say Jimmy,' Hendry said on WST's Snooker Club podcast. 'Everyone goes on about he's been in six finals and not won one but what a player he was! 'People look at the way he plays now and he's like myself, he's a shadow of what he was, but when you look back at what a player he was, he invented naughty snooker. 'The way he played, with his talent, and he's said himself about his off-table activities, but with his talent he should have won a lot more.' Doherty, who beat Hendry to win his one world title in 1997, reckons it is two-time Crucible finalist Matthew Stevens who is underrated by the snooker community. The Welshman only ever won one ranking title – the 2003 UK Championship – but was a regular at the business end of the World Championship in the late 1990s and 2000s. He also won the Masters in 2000, although he had a strange record in that event as he never got past the first round on 10 other outings. Doherty explained: 'My most underrated would probably be Matthew Stevens. He was a class player, still is a class player. 'He did win the UK, won the Masters, the only one he didn't win was this one [World Championship] and he would have been a Triple Crown winner. People forget about that. 'He was a wonderful player for so many years and loved playing at the Crucible. Had a couple of finals, a few semis, saved some of his best snooker for here. He was one of the best I've played.' Seven-time Crucible champ Hendry admits that he underrated another top player, but no longer does so after a brilliant last season. More Trending Kyren Wilson won the World Championship in 2024, in something of a surprise to the Scot, who was thoroughly impressed by how he followed up that win with four ranking titles over the next campaign. 'I'll throw in another underrated [player] that might be a weird one: Kyren Wilson,' said the 56-year-old. 'I underrated him and then he won the world title. Even after he won the world title I think I underrated him until his performances this season. 'Four titles. I didn't think he was going to be a prolific winner and he's really impressed me this year.' MORE: Anthony Hamilton reflects on epic career as Sheriff of Pottingham hands in his badge MORE: Which players could actually win World Snooker Tour's huge century of centuries bonus? MORE: Liam Pullen: In snooker only the strongest survive so you have to become one of them
Wales Online
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Stephen Hendry quizzed about snooker comeback and offers immediate response
Stephen Hendry quizzed about snooker comeback and offers immediate response Stephen Hendry made a snooker comeback in 2020 but has now addressed the recent speculation as to whether he would consider another return to the baize following his retirement Stephen Hendry has lifted the lid on his thoughts behind another potential return from retirement (Image: Alex Pantling, Getty Images ) Legendary seven-time world snooker champion Stephen Hendry has admitted he has no plans for another snooker comeback. The 56-year-old was joined by Australian snooker star Neil Robertson on his YouTube channel when asked if he would consider another comeback from the sidelines. Hendry initially retired from professional snooker in 2012 after an illustrious 27-year career which saw him win 18 Triple Crown tournaments. He also secured a record-breaking seven World Snooker Championship titles, which was later matched by Ronnie O'Sullivan. The snooker legend also competed in 57 ranking finals and emerged victorious in an impressive 36 of them. The Scot is high in the debate of the sport's greatest players, but he isn't motivated to add to his illustrious record in future. He made a surprise return to the sport in 2020 when he accepted a two-year invitational tour card for the main World Snooker Tour. He attributed his decision to improved form and confidence, but those same factors are no longer in play. Hendry potted the black ball while playing Robertson on his Cue Tips YouTube channel (via the Daily Express), which led the 2010 world champion to ask: "You going to make a second comeback with the way you're playing?" Hendry simply answered with a smile: "No." Despite only securing three wins out of 20 matches during his four-year second tenure on the tour, Hendry announced his second retirement from snooker last year. That was despite being offered the opportunity to continue on the main tour with a two-year invitational card. Article continues below The seven-time world champion has already made one comeback after previously hanging up his cue (Image: VCG via Getty Images ) Since then, he has focused on his punditry work and his YouTube channel, which is nearing 400,000 subscribers. On top of that, he also co-hosts the Snooker Club podcast with Mark Watson. Despite his legendary status in snooker, Hendry modestly excluded himself from his own snooker Mount Rushmore when asked to pick five icons for induction into the Snooker Club's Hall of Fame. But a collection of other wizened stars did make the cut, with obvious pick Ronnie O'Sullivan included at the top. "It's very close between Mark Williams and John Higgins, I'd prefer to have them joint-second," he said. "I'll go with Mark just because of his recent record against John at the Crucible. Hendry made the revelation on his Cue Tips YouTube channel (Image: StephenHendry'sCueTips/Youtube ) "He is a freak of nature, he has the best temperament of any sportsman I have seen. He maybe hasn't got the cue power of others, but he has great touch, and he is just a brilliant potter." Article continues below Williams recently finished runner-up to Zhao Xintong in the 2025 World Snooker Championship. And at 50 years old, he became the oldest player ever to make the final of the competition, possibly giving some fans hope there's life in Hendry yet as a competitor. Hendry then positioned Mark Selby, a four-time world champion, in fourth place. And he deliberated over including either current world No. 1 Judd Trump or six-time world champion Steve Davis for the fifth spot. "In fifth could be Judd Trump because of what he has won and his centuries, but he only has one world title," he said. "So I'm going for Steve Davis based on his utter domination of the 1980s."
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Stephen Hendry fires back immediately after being asked about snooker comeback
Stephen Hendry made a surprise return to the professional snooker circuit in 2020 after initially retiring in 2012, but the seven-time world champion has no plans for a third comeback Stephen Hendry has candidly admitted that he has no intention of making another snooker comeback, following a question posed by Neil Robertson. The 56-year-old Scotsman was joined by the Australian star on his YouTube channel 'Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips' earlier this week. Hendry first retired from the sport in 2012 after an impressive 27-year professional career that included 18 Triple Crown tournament victories. He also won a then-unmatched record of seven World Snooker Championship titles, a feat since equalled by Ronnie O'Sullivan. The snooker icon participated in 57 ranking finals as well, triumphing in an incredible 36 of them. However, eight years later, he made an unexpected return when he accepted a two-year invitational tour card for the main World Snooker Tour, citing improved form and confidence. Despite only winning three out of 20 matches during his four-year stint on the tour, Hendry announced his second retirement from snooker last year, even though he had been offered the chance to continue on the main tour with a two-year invitational card. Since then, he has concentrated on his punditry work, his YouTube channel, which is close to reaching 400,000 subscribers, and co-hosting the Snooker Club podcast with Mark Watson. On the popular channel, during a lighthearted game with Robertson, Hendry sunk the black ball, prompting the 2010 world champion to jest: "You going to make a second comeback with the way you're playing?" To which Hendry responded with a smile: "No," reports the Express. Despite being hailed as one of snooker's all-time greats, Hendry humbly omitted himself from his own version of the sport's Mount Rushmore when tasked with selecting five legends for the Hall of Fame on the Snooker Club. "It's very close between Mark Williams and John Higgins, I'd prefer to have them joint-second," he admitted. "I'll go with Mark just because of his recent record against John at the Crucible. "He is a freak of nature, he has the best temperament of any sportsman I have seen. He maybe hasn't got the cue power of others, but he has great touch, and he is just a brilliant potter." Mark Selby, the four-time world champion, was placed fourth by Hendry, who then faced a tough choice between current world No. 1 Judd Trump and six-time world champion Steve Davis for the final spot. "In fifth could be Judd Trump because of what he has won and his centuries, but he only has one world title," he reasoned. "So I'm going for Steve Davis based on his utter domination of the 1980s."
Metro
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Stephen Hendry names his top five snooker players of all-time
Stephen Hendry has picked out his top five snooker players of all-time, although it may be a unique list as he has left himself out. The 56-year-old would almost certainly be on any other onlooker's list of the greatest snooker players ever, but he has graciously stepped aside when ranking the best to ever pick up a cue. However, he admits that if he made the list on another day then he could come up with different answers. 'I've got my five players but I don't know where to rank them,' Hendry said on WST's Snooker Club podcast. 'I haven't thought about it but I think that's a good thing, so this will be pure reaction.' The Scot worked from number one down to number five and went with the player that most would agree has achieved GOAT status. 'I'm going to put Ronnie at the top,' said Hendry. 'Because obviously because of the success he's had, the most successful snooker player of all time, but basically because of his cue ball control. Best I've ever seen. He's an artist with the cue ball. 'His safety game as well. Under pressure, his bottle is unquestionable. Ronnie O'Sullivan is my number one.' Things got trickier as soon as he moved past number one in the rankings, with a toss-up between Mark Williams and John Higgins for second and third. 'Number two is very, very tough between John and Mark but I'm going to go with Mark,' he said. 'How can you choose between them? 'I'm going to go Mark basically for his record recently against John, that's the only reason. 'Mark's incredible, a freak of nature. The way he does it, his temperament is incredible, the best temperament of any sportsman I've ever seen. Unbelievable skill, his touch around the balls is exceptional. He's just a brilliant potter. I'm going Mark Williams by a cigarette paper. 'Number three is obviously John Higgins. One of the greatest, if not the greatest match-player of all-time. 'His scoring, like O'Sullivan, he's done over 1000 centuries, his scoring has been phenomenal. People talk about his match play and shot selection but to me his scoring has been his strength. Equal second/third.' Hendry then gave a nod to Mark Selby in fourth, although said that a few years ago he would have expected the Jester from Leicester to be a little higher on his list. 'Number four would be number two if not for the last three, four, five, six years of his career where he's not continued that domination of the game,' said the seven-time world champion. Ronnie O'Sullivan Mark Williams John Higgins Mark Selby Steve Davis 'Mark Selby is one of the all-time greats. In terms of ball-striking I don't think there's many above him. The obviously thing to say is the tactical game and when he can win when he's not at his best. I'd hate to play him. I did play him and I hated it. I would find him a very tough player to play.' The decision over the last slot on his list came down to two contrasting players from different eras, but it was Steve Davis who edged ahead of current world number one Judd Trump. 'Number five. This could be out of two players,' he said. 'Judd Trump, for what he's won, has got to be considered, but he's only won one world title. 'Steve Davis is my number five. Six world titles. His utter domination of the 80s. People will scream that the players weren't as good, I don't care. If he was playing the way he did in the 80s he'd be in the top 16 today. 'He was the ultimate winning machine and someone I learned a lot from in my whole attitude to the sport.' Hendry himself is the obvious omission from the top five, while players from further back in snooker's history could also have an argument to be in there. Ray Reardon won six World Championship titles and is undoubtedly one of the game's greats, while Joe Davis, the legendary figure from the first half of the 20th century could also be a contender. MORE: Kyren Wilson to take leaf out of Ronnie O'Sullivan's book after Crucible disappointment MORE: Finland has gone 'berserk' for snooker as big names head to Helsinki MORE: Barry Hearn on growth of World Nineball Tour and 'quantum change' in snooker
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Stephen Hendry makes stance clear on snooker vs darts debate after Luke Humphries claim
The debate over what is harder - a nine-darter or a 147 break - has been a hot topic of conversation in recent times, and snooker legend Stephen Hendry has now had his say Stephen Hendry has partially sided with Luke Humphries in the ongoing debate between the worlds of darts and snooker. The argument hinges on which is more challenging - nailing a nine-darter or completing a 147 break. Snooker's Shaun Murphy has consistently fanned the flames, boasting that he has achieved both a nine-darter and a golfing hole-in-one, plus numerous maximum breaks throughout his career. The 2005 world champion ruffled feathers, particularly those of Humphries, during a charity event last year that featured players from both sports. Humphries opined that a 147 was trickier for an amateur, but less so for a pro. He said: "You don't play snooker, you don't play golf, you don't play darts - you give them a snooker cue, some darts and a golf club... I think they'd do the hole-in-one first, the nine-darter second and then the 147 last. I think that would be harder. But to a professional, I think a nine-darter is harder than a 147." In reply, Murphy joked: "I didn't know you were a comedian too." Humphries held his ground, retorting: "What's funny about that? "When you're a professional, you make it look easy to hit a 147. Stats show it too. In frames and legs of darts, there are more 147s than nine-darters." The world's top darts player, who has already guaranteed a spot in the Premier League play-offs with two nights to go, has surprisingly received support from snooker icon Hendry. The seven-time world champion, while faithful to his own sport, acknowledged that the amateur versus professional discussion adds an intriguing twist. "It was Luke Humphries that said it, if you took each sport as a professional... anyone can luck into a hole-in-one but if you're a professional trying to get one, that's very, very difficult," Hendry said on the Snooker Club podcast. "A darts player, under pressure, trying to get a nine-darter... Obviously, I still think the 147 [is harder], I'm always going to go that way because it's 36 shots of perfection. "But it does bring another argument into it if you say what is the hardest to do as a professional in competition?" Following his latest 147 break at the World Open in China against Zhou Jinhao in March, Murphy was told during an interview that he was providing darts players with "some ammunition" in the ongoing debate. He cheekily replied: "Maybe we're just better at what we do, I don't know. That has been said by some." He added: "In all seriousness, I never really wanted to compare the things. It started with me and [darts commentator and ex-player] Wayne Mardle having a drink, discussing which was more difficult. "I'm sure there are more things out there more difficult than each other. Listen, I've made snooker look very difficult at times. When it goes well, I'm really pleased."
