Hendry retires

Holy Diver

From BBC. Sad to see him go out on such a poor performance.

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has announced his retirement from snooker after a heavy 13-2 defeat by Stephen Maguire at the Crucible.

The 43-year-old, who looked out of sorts against Maguire in a one-sided World Championship quarter-final, said he made the decision three months ago.

He said: "There's a few reasons - the schedule, the fact I'm not playing the snooker I want to play, and the fact I'm not enjoying practice.

"It was quite an easy decision."

He added: "I didn't tell many people [before the tournament], but this is me finished from tournament snooker."

Asked whether he would have changed his mind if he had won the tournament, Hendry replied: "No not at all. If I had won, it would have been a better way to go out.

"I was delighted to have made a mamimum here [against Stuart Bingham in the first round] which is why I was more animated when I achieved it. I was delighted to do it on my last appearance.

"I've had so many memories here; my first time here, my first win, obviously my seventh world title. I could write a book about the memories that I had here.

"It's a sad that I won't play here [at the Crucible] again, I love playing here but it's a relief as much as anything.

"I want to do other things now. I've got a lot of commitments now in China, which I've signed up for and I can't do that and play snooker because I would never be at home."

Hendry, who was making his 27th consecutive appearance at the World Championship, looked back to his fluent best as he hit his third Crucible maximum - a record he shares with Ronnie O'Sullivan - in his first round defeat of Bingham.

He went on to beat defending champion Higgins 13-4 which prompted him to declare that he could win a record eighth world title.

But Hendry made a flurry of mistakes against Maguire, which his opponent ruthlessly punished to win the last-eight tie with a session to spare.

Jimmy White, who was beaten by Stephen Hendry in four World Championship finals, tweeted: "He was and is an unbelievable snooker player & has nothing to prove. I hope he enjoys his retirement, he really deserves it.

"He's always put snooker first, been a model professional, a credit to the game and I'll see him in the legends tour this year for more battles.

"I thank him sincerely for some of the best matches and memories of my own career. I'm not sure his records will ever be equalled."

Hendry became the youngest-ever world champion, aged 21 in 1990, before adding six more in the next nine years.

He held the world number one ranking for eight consecutive years between 1990 and 1998 and then again briefly in 2006 and 2007.

Hendry, who lost to Willie Thorne on his World Championship debut in 1986, holds the record for the most world ranking titles (36) and the most competitive century breaks (775)

He also shares the record of most competitive maximum breaks with Ronnie O'Sullivan at 11.

After dominating the 1990s, Hendry's form started to tail off and he reached just one World Championship final in the next decade.

His last ranking tournament final was in the 2006 UK Championship where he lost to Peter Ebdon.

MrJoeSoap

Just saw this now. Legend of the game and I hope he rediscovers his love for it and plays on when he's ready.

You can't be that good for that long and completely fall out of love with it. I'm sure he'll be back. If not, all the best and thanks for many great years.

Holy Diver

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

Just saw this now. Legend of the game and I hope he rediscovers his love for it and plays on when he's ready.

You can't be that good for that long and completely fall out of love with it. I'm sure he'll be back. If not, all the best and thanks for many great years.

I'd say with all the tournaments now it just takes up too much time, and if you love winning like Hendry does it mush feel pretty unrewarding

MrJoeSoap

Holy Diver wrote: »

I'd say with all the tournaments now it just takes up too much time, and if you love winning like Hendry does it mush feel pretty unrewarding

Was just saying something along those lines to a friend myself, yeah. Got to be tough going from the very top of the sport to the fringes (almost, not quite). I'm sure he'll find it equally tough to stay away from the game though.

cherryghost

Snooker has lost one of its greats. Best of luck to him as an ambassador in China.

RachaelVO

I wish him nothing but the best in the future, if ever there was a player that showed his sense of fair play it was Hendry. I seen him put his hand up to his cuff touching off the white ball. No one else seen it, not even the commentators. I know lots of snooker players are very sporting like that, but he always seemed very honest! He'll be a loss to tournament snooker, for sure!