STEPHEN HENDRY reckons he’d have SLAUGHTERED one of snooker’s greatest players on commentary – IF he was playing in today’s game.
The King of the Crucible reckons the former world champion’s way of playing would have seen him struggle to compete with today’s top stars.
Stephen Hendry has been on the ITV Sport team this week[/caption]
The seven-time champion is now one of snooker’s top pundits[/caption]
Legendary snooker star Alex Higgins in action[/caption]
Seven-time world champion Hendry, 56, is currently on commentary duties with ITV at the Players Championship.
It’s one of the many roles he’s taken up since retiring – for the second time – last year.
With a professional career that stretched just shy of FORTY years, Hendry faced many of the greatest players of yesteryear as well as the stars currently at the top of the game.
One of the legendary figures Hendry faced early on in his pro career was Alex Higgins.
The Hurricane won two world titles and is one of the stars credited with making snooker a mainstream televised event during the 1980s.
At 22, Higgins became the youngest World Snooker Champion in 1971 – a record broken by a 21-year old Hendry in 1990.
The Belfast-born ace was also known as the ‘People’s Champion’ due to his popularity.
Higgins’ often turbulent professional career ended in 1997 and he sadly passed away in 2010.
Higgins and Hendry would face-off six times after Hendry turned professional in 1985.
In fact, Higgins’ last title win came AGAINST Hendry in 1989 when he triumphed at the Irish Open.
At the Players Championship, Hendry and fellow pundit Alan McManus discussed Higgins’ greatness and genius.
But Hendry – who counts Higgins as his snooker hero – reckons Higgins’ genius and unique way of playing would have led to him SLAUGHTERING him in as a commentator.
Hendry told ITV Sport: “I used to practice with him when I turned pro which was an unbelievable honour, playing with your hero at 16, 17 years old.
“The genius of Alex is there would be simple positional shots but even in matches, he would play them in a difficult way.
“An easy follow through, he’ll find somewhere to play off two cushions – why are you playing such a difficult shot when it could be so easy?
“But that would be his genius. He just played these shots, incredible talent.”
As highlighted by the presenter, Higgins only managed 45 centuries during his entire career, which can be contributed to his rather unique way of playing.
In just this season alone, Judd Trump has more than 80.
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
Hendry reckons scoring is why Higgins would’ve struggled to compete in today’s game.
Hendry continued: “He wouldn’t have lived in today’s game in terms of scoring. He just didn’t score enough.
“He made incredible breaks, the famous clearance against Jimmy White.
“He wasn’t in position – I’d have slaughtered him in the commentary box!
“He wasn’t in position two shots in a row but he just kept on pulling off all these incredible shots.
“But he wasn’t a heavy, heavy scorer and that’s why he would have struggled, in my opinion, in today’s game.”
McManus added: “I was lucky enough to play him a couple of times, he was a brave as a lion, Alex Higgins.
“If you left him a chance under pressure he would take it.
“He was very brave indeed. Brilliant.”
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
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
