Snooker legend opts out of pursuing eighth crucible title, cites TV commitments as priority

Snooker legend Stephen Hendry has confirmed that he will not be competing in the World Snooker Championship qualifiers this year. The seven-time Crucible champion has decided against vying for an eighth title, opting instead to prioritize his television commitments.

Hendry, who has won a joint-record seven titles at the Crucible, has chosen to focus on his punditry work for the Tour Championship and the subsequent World Championship, both of which are broadcast by the BBC.

Despite being part of the tour due to a two-year invitational card he received in 2022, Hendry has experienced a challenging season, having lost all five of his matches so far. As he is not one of the top 16 seeds for the tournament, he would have had to compete in a demanding qualifying stage against formidable opponents like Neil Robertson, Jack Lisowski, and Hossein Vafaei to secure a spot in the main competition.

In a statement on his WST Snooker Club podcast, Hendry explained his decision, stating, “I’ve not entered the world qualifying this year. There’s a couple of reasons. It starts the day after the Tour Championship finishes. I’ll have been working for TV all week, and obviously not had much chance to practise, which I haven’t really done.”

He further elaborated, “I’m not going to bother this year. There’s a lot of things to do in between the Tour Championship and World Championship, so I thought I’d give it a miss this year.”

Hendry, who initially retired from professional snooker in 2012, made a comeback to the sport in 2020. However, he admitted to struggling with motivation, particularly after experiencing the grandeur of events like playing in front of thousands of spectators in Hong Kong.

Reflecting on his current challenges, Hendry remarked, “I’d play in front of 3,000 people in Hong Kong, to a full house. And now I’m playing in a leisure centre with a swimming pool next to it. I mean, how do you get yourself up that? That’s the problem.”

While Hendry’s decision marks a significant moment in his career, fans will undoubtedly continue to appreciate his contributions to the sport, both on and off the table.