Latest news with #SnookerClub
Metro
3 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
The 'world beater' tipped to dethrone Judd Trump at Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters
After Shanghai Masters glory, 'world beater' Kyren Wilson has been tipped to go back-to-back and land the Saudi Arabia Masters title as well. The world number two was excellent in Shanghai, beating Si Jiahui, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Zhao Xintong and then Ali Carter in the final. The Warrior brushed off the disappointment of losing in the first round at the Crucible in April, which ended his world title defence on the opening day in Sheffield. Clearly that one loss to Lei Peifan has not diminished his confidence and former world champion Ken Doherty rates him as highly as any player right now. 'He's a world beater,' Doherty told Metro of Wilson. 'He's got a lot of consistency in his all round game. 'His scoring power now is probably at the best it has ever been, which he's really improved on and that has made a big difference. 'He's always been a good long potter, he's got great bottle, great temperament. But his scoring power, he's competing with the likes of Trump and Ronnie and Higgins and all the top break-builders. So that makes him a very, very tough player to play.' Current world number 113 and both a pundit and commentator, Steven Hallworth, sees no reason that Wilson cannot follow up his brilliant Shanghai win by landing the £500,000 top prize in Jeddah on Saturday. 'In terms of how he played, I was so impressed with Kyren,' Hallworth said on WST's Snooker Club podcast. 'His whole outlook on the game, how positive he was staying, his tempo around the table and he was super aggressive when he was in. 'It was a real statement, for me. Obviously Judd Trump is still number one, but he had to come through against Ronnie O'Sullivan and the world champion Zhao Xintong and I think he did that really nicely. 'He's laid down a marker, he's not world number one but for me he probably is the best player in the world right now. 'Saudi's going to be interesting, there's a lot of big hitters heading out there and it's going to be really interesting to see how that one unfolds. 'I think Kyren's going to be the man to beat off the back of Shanghai, full of confidence, starting his season with a big win. I think Kyren's going to be the one to beat.' The top 16 in the world join the fray in Jeddah on Tuesday, with Wilson yet to learn his opponent in the tiered draw format. The 2024 world champ will face one of Iulian Boiko, Jackson Page, Louis Heathcote or the man who downed him at the Crucible this year, Lei Peifan. Having won the first edition of the tournament last year, Trump is looking to continue an unbeaten record in the event when he joins the action on Tuesday. The world number one was beaten in the Shanghai quarter-finals by Mark Selby and hopes to bounce back by defending his title in Jeddah and landing the £500,000 again. Trump will begin his campaign against Noppon Saengkham, Gong Chenzhi, Matt Selt or Oliver Lines. MORE: Joe O'Connor makes silverware prediction after best ever start to season MORE: Zak Surety still battling imposter syndrome despite dramatic career turnaround MORE: Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters 2025 draw, schedule, TV channel, prize money and odds
Metro
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Stephen Hendry puts Ronnie O'Sullivan second in top five players to watch
Stephen Hendry has called Ronnie O'Sullivan the greatest snooker player of all-time, but that doesn't mean he is his favourite to watch. That is no criticism of the Rocket, with the Scot putting his fellow seven-time world champion second in his top five favourite players of all-time to watch. Also in that top five are a great rival of Hendry in his pomp, the current world number one and a couple of players who are yet to turn their flamboyant styles into much silverware. Talking through his favourite players to watch on WST's Snooker Club podcast, the legendary Whirlwind was first to be mentioned. 'Number five is Jimmy [White]. Not Jimmy now, but Jimmy in his prime,' said Hendry. 'Jimmy was my hero when I started playing. I used to record videos of him and try to copy some of the shots he was playing, some of the shots he used to play was basically what got me to fall in love with snooker, really. He was my hero.' Next in line comes the 2019 world champion, the reigning world number one and the 30-time ranking event winner, Judd Trump. 'Number four I'm going to go Judd Trump,' said Hendry. 'Judd Trump is incredible to watch, he plays shots that no one else can play. 'The power, the naughty snooker at the end of frames and the imagination to think up these shots. What a break-builder, 107 centuries in a season!' The 56-year-old then went for Jack Lisowski, a player still searching for his first ranking title, but is undoubtedly a delight to watch at the table. Hendry explained: 'Number three I'm going to go Jack Lisowski. What a beautiful snooker player, like the mirror image of Ronnie, he's left-handed, Ronnie's right-handed. Very similar cue actions. 'I just love watching him play, what a talent, he's just incredible. Just waiting for the victories.' Then came the Rocket, with Hendry saying: 'Number two, this could be controversial, Ronnie O'Sullivan. 'If Ronnie is in a tournament and I get my rota for commentating, I always hope to be on his matches. 'He's the greatest player of all-time. Break-building, cue ball control, if you don't like watching that then you don't like watching snooker. When he's on he plays the game perfectly, basically.' At number one, ahead of the likes of O'Sullivan and Trump, is the current world number 46, Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. Hendry knows from personal experience how good the 40-year-old is, having played him in 2021 and watched him knock in breaks of 136, 129, 107, 106, 100, 59, and 52 in a 6-1 loss. 'Thepchaiya Un-Nooh is my favourite player to watch,' said Hendry. 'Unbelievable talent. More Trending 'He beat me 6-1 once in the UK Championship qualifiers, he had five centuries and I don't think any of them took more than seven or eight minutes. The cue ball was on a string, it was absolute perfection.' The man known as F1 for his speed around the table has just one ranking title to his name, the 2019 Snooker Shoot Out and has been to just one ranking semi in the last five seasons, which Hendry finds hard to believe. 'How he's where he's ranked in the world…talent isn't enough on its own to be successful and he proves it because he's got bucket loads of talent,' he said. 'I love watching him play. It's all-out attack, he refuses nothing. Incredible talent, incredible player, incredible speed.' MORE: The players who had dream and nightmare first weeks of the snooker season MORE: Sam Craigie feared for snooker career after neck surgery but now feels better than ever MORE: Chang Bingyu returns from match-fixing ban with back-to-back wins
Metro
05-06-2025
- 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."
