Stephen Hendry Lifts Lid On Snooker 'Comeback'! | Snooker Club Podcast 

Even if you don't carry on playing anymore Stephen you are a fantastic commentator

I think Stephen is avoiding the practice table because he's worried he may not like the way he's playing even if he does practice, so he's almost giving himself a mental "out" so he can lower his own expectations. This is something Ronnie has done a lot throughout his career as well. The difference is Stephen has been retired from full time snooker for over a decade now, and with the career he's had he really has nothing to prove (least of all to himself) in my opinion. The fans still love him (probably more now than when he was in his prime) Most of us are aware it's not 1996 anymore - and we're not expecting a century every time he comes to the table (even if Stephen himself does). Personally I hope he keeps playing, gets back to the practice table, and sets some realistic goals for himself; but he's earnt the right to do whatever - his legacy won't be diminished if he never picks up a cue again or plays for the next 30years. In some ways it's a free roll to add to his legacy if he does manage to take down a tournament at some point...

Pains me to say this but this is getting ridiculous. "It's not a comeback" - we've been hearing this for years now. Stephen, you don't want to practice? Fine. Stop going on podcasts telling everybody how you would actually be really good if you practiced. What if you practiced and your opponents still smashed you 4-0? Maybe that's your real fear? Stop saying that you are losing against players who shouldn't even be on the same table with you (Hendry said that on another podcast). Guess what Stephen, those players are whitewashing you now, so stop disrespecting them. You have been a great world champion and I picked up snooker because of you, but you are now a RU-vidr. Give back the wild card. Some young prospect might need it.

If he wants to play the odd tournament without practising, let him. He's stephen hendry, he's earned it.

Practice. If you don't want to practice, just quit.

Like any skill, it diminishes if it's neglected. To make up for the multi-year gap would require the same work, and then more on top of that. No doubt if Stephen kept playing without the gap he'd still be top 16. But that's the thing; because he's been at the top, it's mentally tougher to accept not being number 1, and "only", say, 10th, as an example. I feel like not practicing is a defence mechanism. Perhaps 2-3 hours a day, 6 days a week for 2 years would get him Milkins/Hawkins level. But is it easier mentally to lose all the time without practicing, and think you "could" be at the top with practice, than giving your all and being 10th-16th? For a serial winner maybe only being 10th-16th giving 100% is more gutting than being 100th and not giving your all?

I don't understand. I'm a fan of Stephen. But, if he doesn't want to put in the effort to practice then why is he complaining? He doesn't deserve to win just for showing up & being Stephen Hendry.

Stephan has grown up to have a beautiful personality!! We still love you Stephan no matter how bad you play.

All I know is that regardless of how well or poorly you do Stephen, you'll always still be a 7 Time WORLD CHAMPION!!!! Nobody can ever take that away from you. And I think the only one that can top that record is Ronnie. But seeing you out there still playing in tournaments, good or bad, truely warms my heart. I grew up watching you and Steve Davis ABSOLUTELY DOMINATE for the better part of 2 decades. It would be a thrill to see you win a tournament again. Wishing you all the best Stephen. Toronto is with you!!!👍👍

Don't buy the fact he doesn't try the man obviously has a winners mentality just hasn't got the ability to play at the highest. No disrespect to the man still my favourite player to ever pick up a cue.

"I don't practice" Disrespectful

We miss the master a hero to many of us older fellows. Wish Steven could put his heart into it and make a serious attempt to compete at a high level again. His commentating is as delightful as his play always was.

Okay zero sympathy now after hearing this lol

I still believe I can pull a 21 year old girl because I used to do it all the time in my 20's, but now at 45 I am coming to the realisation it will never happen again!

Stephen, the snooker things you’re best at now are commentating and hosting your channel. Do not minimize the importance of these jobs. In both, you are a vital ambassador to the viewer. You are perhaps the best commentator, and you are a very good YT channel host with lots of potential for being great. (These both take real work, which shouldn’t be minimized either.) But forget about winning and keep playing. Snooker fans love to see you.

Hendry will always be a legend to me. Loved watching him play!

Come on Steve put the golf bats away for 12-18 months! Don't fade away show everyone who's the man! Your one of the greatest players to ever play the game! Show them whats what!! 👊👊👍

Just having Steven Hendry back in snooker brings the whole sport up, Quality content and a funny guy

Stephen, you’re a legend. Top one or two ever. Take a breath. Look around. You did it. Don’t let snooker be an anchor to the rest of your life. However your cuetips show is great!

Stephen, you will forever be a snooker god. That said, it's hard to see podcast/youtube Stephen (and current matchplay stephen) as the same person as the unbeatable snooker machine. I think you've nailed it with practice and maybe match mentality but it's so strange to see you play to such a substandard level sometimes! You have an undeniable knowledge of the game, and are one of the best at talking honestly and brutally about the game so your gift keeps on giving. All the best sir

Hendry wins the Commentators Trophy every year

Don't really agree, if you accept the wildcard and you want to achieve something, even if it's only playing one more time at the Crucible, I think you at least should put in the effort. Especially at his age he will need the practice to get back to any level that is acceptable. He needed the practice when he was on top, for sure he will need it now and what's 2-4 hours a day? I feel he is afraid most of all and the no-practice is a good excuse for the defeats - but come on, give it a go, if you don't reach the Crucible stage, then so be it - or just call it a day and decline the wildcard.

For what he’s achieved in his snooker career. I do think Stephen deserves a wildcard as long as he played one match every season. Hopefully see him shine in a tournament one day

Hi Stephen, I'm really enjoying listening to you and think what you have to offer people is far better than trying to play in tournaments. Your legend will never be touched so just enjoy your life and being Stephen.

I love these candid interviews. All you need to do is connect with your love for snooker. You are still the GOAT, Stephen. Leave the past behind. It's all in the mind.

The Snooker Gods will grant him another big win with his cue action in full swing, you watch... I hope he keeps playing and comes good again... Even if it never happens, nobody else will ever match what he achieved in the 90's, in any other decade from now until eternity. Phenomenal. His name will forvever be synonymous with snooker greatness.

Try losing a stone and doing a bit practise or forget it. Tarnishing the game otherwise, no matter what your cv is.

Go play and enjoy the game if you cant practice much go out and try and relax and try and play freely. Absolute legend of the game be it as a player, a commentator or through your youtube channel.

He knows he ain't got what he had in his day. If he was more confident, he'd be more focused and practise more. Simple as that...

Love the podcast by the way it's gonna be great.

The glass next to the coaster is brilliant

STEPHEN' You CAN not BEAT a fellow Pro at a 10 percent level Sorry stop thinking like that'

I can imagine, Mr. Hendry, how difficult it is to play and then lose in any tournament that would be a wild card event for you. But just having you there, is as good a "draw" as having Ronnie there. People just want to see you play and I would say the majority understand your stance on the game now.

Great Stuff .

Totally disrespectful - and untrue - to say that he'd beat O'Brien at 2% of his former std. If you're not going to practise then it would be fair on a more deserving player who does practise to give up your free tour card. And, I suspect , most audiences would rather watch someone who does try than someone who doesn't

Beautiful thing about sports is that you need to prove yourself over and over and over again, regardless of what you've done before. At the start of every match both players are equal. Saying that you would beat your opponent playing at 2% isn't going to cut it. You actually have to play at 2% or whatever is required for you to win a match at pro level. The thing is that Hendry lost his hunger more than 20 years ago after dominating the decade line no other. Once you lose that, it's hard to come back, and you are definitely not going to do it in your 50's after 10 years in retirement. That ship has sailed, it's as simple as that.

He's eleven years away from winning money as a snooker player... he would have been 43 years of age then. Ronnie O'Sullivan just won the Shanghai Master's tournament at age 47. Stephen had an awesome career but he lacks the drive that has kept Ronnie active. Ronnie still looks great. If we're lucky we'll have a few more years of seeing him competing for tournament wins. But Stephen is still respected and welcomed as an analyst. Enjoy your golf Stephen. The game is in good hands..

Great player and honest comments 😅

I’m sorry if this upsets people but give his wildcard to a young player that takes it seriously, him being the second best ever doesn’t change my view. Jimmy white at least takes his wildcard seriously regardless of his level

Very disrespectful to Fergal,, thats o sullivan talk, very disappointing

I don't know what to say. I'm just a run of the mill, half decent (some days) amateur snooker player in his late 40s, but Stephen Hendry is an absolute God to me. I just don't see that he has the passion or the fire anymore. But I also think his transition from pro player to commentary and his RU-vid channel is an awesome way to stay relevant and connected to the sport. I think it's hard to find a better commentator (I mean, JV is a laugh, and who doesn't love Dennis Taylor?), but Stephen is just a star in commentary. Even if he never rekindles that fire, he can look back on an outstanding career which by far exceeds the success the vast majority of professional players will ever achieve.

Stephan deserves a wild card for what he’s done for the game hopefully he’ll come back as a great player again I think he has it in him if he’s prepared to commit himself

You said it yourself, you don’t practice. If you want to get out of playing in the leisure centres and back to playing decent tournaments, put the golf club to one side and practice your snooker. 😂 It would be brilliant to see you back on the main tour - away from the commentary box. 🎱

I remember when he first retired he claimed he loved winning and once he stopped winning, the enjoyment wasn’t there anymore. So it seems odd to take rhe wildcard knowing he's going to be a lot worse than when the yips first got him and then as he says himself play in leisure centres with no atmosphere to even get excited about. He could've kept his career going and set himself new challenges like Davis did. They were very similar, Davis hated passing the baton to him but he still loved the thrill of trying to compete against the new batch and even won rhe Masters (in 97 I think). Even someone like Williams changed his game and attitude and managed to win a world championship long after people thought he was finished

Hendry is my all time favourite player. Even I have to say, if he can't be bothered, give the wild card to somebody else, the world snooker tour deserves better.

The GOAT ROS 🐐

Even though he never said anything about the cue. To me I reckon he was natural and the best with that 1 piece maple cue. Since he started with the 3/4 cue, he looked like a different player on the snooker table, not the same hendry who I idolised in the 90’s

Only one real GOAT Ronnie O'Sullivan 🐐

I guess there's a lot of pressure for Stephen to live up to his glory days, but I'm sure the audience understands that he might not ever be as good as he was, but it's nice to see him shine when he's playing well, and everyone appreciates that. Either way, the people are still cheering for him, and in some way now he's an underdog, I feel I want to support him even more.

Get practising Stephen, would love to see you smash some of these players again!

First he says he doesn't practice. Then he says he doesn't miss a ball in practice. Then he reveals that he is working with a coach. 😅😂

I wonder if Hendry was only at 2% when Fergal spanked him in Goffs (Ireland) in 1994... at the height of his career? Very disrespectful to claim he'd beat Fergal if he'd played at 2% of his ability. Perhaps if Hendry had shown ANY resistance Fergal would have stepped up his game just another 1% or 2% and still won 4-0 👍

If you can't bring your practice form to the match is very frustrating and I can understand the lack of inclination to practice. It's good to dig deep to find out the cause, fascinating but doubt that sharing the process will help with the goal. it could help to find excuses but the goal.

Stephen saying he only has to get to 2% to beat Fergal is the problem. He is playing against his former self everytime he goes out to play. On top of that, it was disrespectful to Fergal. Sorry Stephen.

It's like any sport when you leave it to long you never come back as good 😮

I seem to remember him retiring the first time around because he was getting beaten by people that he knew weren’t better than him.

To me he taken snooker to a different level. But and only my opinion I think he should retire as possibly the best ever. He doesn't need to prove to anyone how good he was . I love his RU-vid channel. Its brilliant. But i hope his legacy doesn't get damaged by these wild card beatings. I think he's a fantastic commentator to and i would love to just remember him as one of the best ever. Davies in ty 80s . Then the legend Mr Hendry turns up. And before people start saying the quality wasn't as good then well i get that to a point but at the end of the day you can only beat what's in frtof you. Now as the best ever i think it goes without question it has to be Ronnie. He is a talent we should appreciate we're alive to witness it. He's just beyond brilliant. But Stephen Hendry is in the same conversation as a legacy of the game goes. Even Ronnie says he's (Hendry) the greatest. So many legends in sports and i just want he's impact on the game to be forgotten by these defeats he's now regularly taking. These are only my opinions and I'd love to hear what you guys think?

I'd love to see Stephen put his head down and put in some hours just to see what he can do.

Hendry will always be a champ I can see it in que tips when he loses, it still gets to him! you can’t be the best at your game and don’t mind losing … that never leaves you… no Scot has come close

It must be hard to be the best in the world and then it's just gone. I hope Stephen overcomes his yips and starts winning again.

I think stephen should team up with davis film his coaching as well as the banter that be great

That drink on the table is giving me anxiety

I reckon if you look up "Competitor" in a dictionary, Stehpen Hendry will be in the definition. 🙂

Yeah I’d like to see him do 6 months solid practice and go from there.

If Stephen reads these comments, why not find a middle ground? You don't have to do 5 or 6 hours practice a day every day anymore. Just do 1 or 2 hours maybe 4 days a week? It can't be fun getting beat almost every match. I've seen some recent highlights and you can still play great at times so you still have it in you. Just my thoughts.

Sorry to state the obvious, but if you do not practice what else can you expect other than failure?

Why isnt he practising then? Just dont understand why he enters these tournaments losing in the first round. If he cant be arsed to practise then he simply shouldn't play

Seems it all comes down to how long you're willing to practice before a tournament.wish you well 👍

Gan on Hezza bonny lad!

“Did you ever have people telling you that you was my hero” yes probably the best person to ever pick up a que the 🚀

He answers his own question. I don't practice and i can't beat anyone. When i was dominating in the 90s i practiced 5/6 hours a day

The irony is that Stephen dominated Jimmy back in the day and yet Jimmy's standard for his age at 60 is quite remarkable. Hendry has become a wonderful, incisive commentator and a really great person to boot. The game still needs him!

Stephen you one cool snooker play good see play tournament all good fun

Cue action!!!

Your a Great snooker commentator now...

It's a crime that Stephen and Jimmy got wild cards. They haven't been the same players for a long long time. Put them out there misery.

We know that there is a snooker god somewhere inside Steven just waiting to emerge again. Patience.

Stephen needs someone like Ian Doyle in his life who can force him to practice and put the work in. Seems like Feeney and others are just not in that position (or that motivated) to be able to boss Stephen around. When he says "2% of 'my game'", what does 'my game' mean? The game he's referring to *was* the game of a 20-something-old man who practiced 30 hours a week. Also, other players with decent longevity invest a lot in their physical fitness as well, Higgins's recent weight loss being a prime example. Whereas Stephen is if anything putting on more weight. Just make a concerted effort for 2 years and show them who's the king, not just of the Crucible but Snooker itself!

Play to enjoy , not to win. Time to give up main tour though. Once Ronnie mark John Peter Ken etc finish, they need a seniors tour. 6 reds to keep it fair

He's got the talent, if he could put the practice in, he could win something.

Play when you wish you have earned that right.

He just needs 4 more ranking event wins to beat Ronnie.

Even as a bang average league player,I know that if I don’t put the work in I don’t get the results,but I love that Stephen has still got the passion for the game.

Happens in most sports with superstars who can’t hack not being in the spotlight any more. As he says, it’s all he knows. I wonder though if it’s not just a physical thing in him not practicing? His heart clearly isn’t in it as it once was. Perhaps the 99% he’s lacking is purely a mental thing in that deep down he knows he’s trying to do it for all the wrong reasons?

Maybe what he needs is a good player to practice with. How can you play match snooker coming off a practice table!

Loving Hendry Hated the bearings he gave Jimmy but Jimmy never gave himself a chance. Still living Jimmy.

All time great so if he stops playing it's fine not many will do or match what he's done

❤ I want to see Stephen Henry come out of retirement I always enjoyed watching him play I would watch snooker a lot more if Stephen Hendry would come out of retirement I enjoy watching him play

Doing the same thing and expecting different results is called gambling !

Look if Stephen wants to keep playing he can just play in some tournaments and see what happens. But one thing he can’t do is have one foot in one foot out. If he’s so sour about losing or how he’s playing he needs to jump all the way back in. If you’re only half way in all Willy nilly about it then this is the result. I think he could dedicate himself and do really well for a good 5 year run or so. Why would he want to though?

Stephen just has to make piece in just turning up and having a crack , without needing the 8 hr practice a day . Fact is if he’s not practicing a lot then he will lose a lot , he has to just enjoy the game and come to terms with losing 60% of his matches

He dont want it enough, If he put the hours in and played in more tournaments, He would do a lot better and would win matchs. But his tournament winning days are long gone, 25 years gone...

You know the How Stephen, but you need to find the Why

his winning spirit is gone cz he has achiieved all in ten years of his prime nd young age aswell. now he is playing tornaments to enjoy his retirement days.without pressure.

There are people so desperate to play competitively and are practicing every day. Move on Hendry, youre commentating is becoming great and so is your RU-vid channel. Dont be selfish all your life

Have you tried practicing?

Hendry was an amazing player and took the game to a level to where it is now ,but you can’t say I can’t be bothered to practice and then say snookers my life and always has been ,makes no sense .Hendry had serious problems over twenty years ago ,yips or whatever ,that’s why he retired ,those problems are still there in his mid 50’s .Play for fun Steven ,do a few exhibitions,do the commentary ,play golf ,and keep your great RU-vid channel going ,but hand Uncle Barry’s wild card back ,that will help one other player coming through and you won’t keep tainting your legacy .

I’d love to know if Stephen now considers he’s a better golfer than a snooker player? Obviously he’s practicing his golf (hobby) a lot where as he still considers practicing snooker as work and so he doesn’t want to be “working”.

If he could get himself mentally in check to be able to practice he'd be able to play maybe not to his best but show some promise.

It’s called Father Time unfortunately, one of the best of all time but it’s just a fact of life