Stephen Hendry hits out at TWO former world champions as frustrated snooker icon blasts ‘they’re not making my job easy’
STEPHEN HENDRY wasn’t pulling any punches as he assessed a huge snooker showdown between two former world champions.
The Scots legend accused the big name stars of ‘not making my job easy’ as he bemoaned the quality of their play.
Hendry, 55, is currently part of the BBC Sport team at the UK Championship in York.
While he is retired these days, Hendry still plays a big role in the game as a pundit and has reinvented himself as a major YouTube hit.
Appearing both as a pundit and a commentator at the Barbican, Hendry hasn’t been shy in telling it as it is at the Barbican.
Having already criticised Luca Brecel before the tournament, the seven-time world champion railed against the Belgian’s lack of preparation and practice while commentating on his dismal first round exit.
On Tuesday night, it was two more former world champions in Hendry’s firing line!
Having been in the commentary box during the afternoon session, the King of the Crucible was in the studio with presenter Seema Jaswal to provide his expert analysis of Mark Williams’ showdown with Stuart Bingham.
Despite pitting two former world champions against each other, it proved to me a match full of mistakes.
And Hendry couldn’t hide his frustrations as he was asked to give his opinion during a break in play, with Williams 4-2 ahead and accused both players of making HIS job difficult.
Hendry blasted: “They’re not making my job very easy, these players on table one. I tell you, it’s not the easiest match to be a pundit on.
“You want to pick good things and tell the people at home, this is a great shot, but there’s none of that, is there?
“It’s a real poor, poor match. It’s who makes the last mistake.
“Mark Williams won’t even know what he’s done and Stuart Bingham, to his credit, managed to pot the last three reds and clear up.
“You’re just waiting for one of the players to sort of take a grip of it, stamp their authority and really go for the line. I thought Mark was going to get stronger, but he’s not.”
While the quality of the match may have frustrated Hendry, there was no shortage of drama.
Stephen Hendry career achievements
Seven-time World Snooker Champion
Youngest-ever winner of World Championship
Six-time Masters Champion
Five-time UK Championship winner
18 Triple Crown tournament wins
36 ranking titles
Nine seasons as World No1
Awarded MBE in 1994
Two-time BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year
As mentioned, at the time of Hendry’s comments, Williams was leading the match 4-2.
By the time the BBC coverage went off-air just before 10pm, he was leading 5-4.
Incredibly, when all was said and done, three-time world champion Williams had LOST.
Bingham won FOUR consecutive frames to clinch a remarkable 6-5 win to advance to the second round.
He’ll now take on China’s Zhang Anda who stole the show with a maximum break to beat Lei Peifan.
Stephen Hendry career achievements
Seven-time World Snooker Champion
Youngest-ever winner of World Championship
Six-time Masters Champion
Five-time UK Championship winner
18 Triple Crown tournament wins
36 ranking titles
Nine seasons as World No1
Awarded MBE in 1994
Two-time BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year
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