Stephen Hendry V John Higgins

[montoya10]

I think it's shaping up to be very interesting.

The two players are just getting a feel for the match. It's 35 frames.

Why do people these days expect fireworks from Frame 1? That's not how snooker works usually. A great match always bubbles up slowly.

If you consider their recent form (or in Hendry's case, his form in the last five seasons or so), it's unlikely that they're going to start playing fantastic quality snooker immediately all of a sudden.
It could still be a good match in the end, let's say it goes down to the wire, ending up 13-12. But if they continue to play shots like they did in the first mini session, there is no difference between 13-7 and 13-12 for me.

[P.Smith]

black of its spot missed by hendry after potting a tremendous long red

That is classic 21st century Hendry right there.

[gem]

Stephen is the best ever...probably. For me, this is the reason I could never warm up to the guy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bendirs/2...s_winning.html

But then again, it is this kind of mentality that brought him all the titles. As for Higgins, I used to like the guy until the betting scandal. So, I am not really that bothered that I am at work. Maybe I will be sorry later, when this matches produces some amazing snooker

Great article and a fantastic attitude to have.
If anyone thinks this is not the way other top players think then they are severely mistaken.
Every person at the top of their sport will think this way as well.

I also agree with him about the standard being similar at the top level although I actually think Hendry at his best would still have the edge over todays players.

Where it seems to be harder now is the strength in depth is greater meaning you have will struggle a bit if not at your best.

[PatBlock]

That is classic 21st century Hendry right there.

Sad, but true.

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[montoya10]

Great article and a fantastic attitude to have.
If anyone thinks this is not the way other top players think then they are severely mistaken.
Every person at the top of their sport will think this way as well.

I also agree with him about the standard being similar at the top level although I actually think Hendry at his best would still have the edge over todays players.

Where it seems to be harder now is the strength in depth is greater meaning you have will struggle a bit if not at your best.

Totally agreed. They all have the same attitude.
This is the reason I don't like Valentino Rossi in MotoGP, Michael Schumacher in Formula 1, Kobe Bryant in NBA and Stephen Hendry in snooker.

[breakman16]

Great article and a fantastic attitude to have.
If anyone thinks this is not the way other top players think then they are severely mistaken.
Every person at the top of their sport will think this way as well.

I also agree with him about the standard being similar at the top level although I actually think Hendry at his best would still have the edge over todays players.

Where it seems to be harder now is the strength in depth is greater meaning you have will struggle a bit if not at your best.

fantastic post, it's a pro sportsmen's approach, u don't put hours and hours and hours of practice in to not give all your being to winning and sod anyone else, otherwise u may as well stay an amateur and enjoy the game, if your a born winner who enjoys competing but wants to win, then turn pro, NO ONE at pro level enjoys losing, regardless of how much they say they enjoy competing, the enjoyment is tempered when they lose

[P.Smith]

Totally agreed. They all have the same attitude.
This is the reason I don't like Valentino Rossi in MotoGP, Michael Schumacher in Formula 1, Kobe Bryant in NBA and Stephen Hendry in snooker.

Some of your favourite sportsmen probably have a similar attitude, you just don't know it.

Personally I'm not bothered, it's about how you play that matters imo.

[breakman16]

Totally agreed. They all have the same attitude.
This is the reason I don't like Valentino Rossi in MotoGP, Michael Schumacher in Formula 1, Kobe Bryant in NBA and Stephen Hendry in snooker.

most of them are the best of all time in their sports though, so if u dont like their attitudes then to watch them and enjoy them playing great is wrong, it's that very attitude that allows them to be the best and people like u to enjoy top quality professional sport, great break by Hendry, if he carries on scoring like this he really can win this match!

[FOXMULDER]

So you think Trump's reputation is greater than Hendry's was?

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I don't mean at the game. I mean the celebrity playboy image that Trump is styling himself as. He's been riding the crest of a wave for the past year, and I'm sure his "aura" is affecting his opponents. Problem is: that is only temporary.

Also, Hendry was a more controlled player. Yes, he went for his shots. But he didn't play the kind of kamikaze shots Trump plays. Ironically though, as Davis (or someone?) mentioned this week, you probably have more chance of getting away with those shots than a controlled attempt.

[FOXMULDER]

Hendry starting to fire. His scoring has been good in this match so far.

[Masterdoctorgenius]

hendry starting to play sublime snooker

[breakman16]

crank the scoring machine up great man, STEEEE-PHEN clapclapclap, STEEEE=PHEN clapclapclap, STEEEE-PHEN, clapclapclap lol

[montoya10]

most of them are the best of all time in their sports though, so if u dont like their attitudes then to watch them and enjoy them playing great is wrong, it's that very attitude that allows them to be the best and people like u to enjoy top quality professional sport, great break by Hendry, if he carries on scoring like this he really can win this match!

I don't actually enjoy watching them. It's just science fiction for me when a player wins umpteen championships or something like that and still shows desire and hunger to win more. I'm more into the concept of a minimalist life than this kind of attitude. This is the reason why I don't like any of the players that are labeled as 'best' or dominant.
To be honest, I enjoy them falling down the ranks when they're past their prime and not so dominant any more.

[montoya10]

Back to the game, Hendry is playing better out of two at the moment. He may end up winning the session.

[Masterdoctorgenius]

vintage hendry u have to say