Hendry Announces Retirement

[FerruleFox]

Still not sure how I feel about this....

Protecting a legacy by giving up competition altogether has proven difficult for many greats. Hard to believe he will be happy with the decision long term.

[paddybhoy30]

I've watched and played beside(sometimes)stephen all through his prime, there is nobody i think was as at ease and comfortable around a snooker table than he was. He definetly lost his way after his cue got destroyed which probably cost him another world title and maybe a few ranking events. But he gave me and a lot of others great joy bringing the game to the next level. Some of his maximums and clearances under pressure for me still cannot be matched. He and maybe phil taylor are the greatest champions the uk have produced.

[the nugget]

Hendry has made the right decision , two years too late .

It was a shame , yet somewhat inevitable his final game would end in a humiliating defeat , but that will be quickly forgotten due to the 147.
On a different note i genuinely fear for John Higgin's now as well, looking at his result's this season i have a feeling he is starting to hit the wall as well so to speak .

Hendry was the greatest winner the game has ever seen , it is extremely unlikely his achievements will ever be matched .
the end of an era .

Yep id tend to agree here i remember it happening to Davis and then almost 10 years ago began happening to Hendry, i think Johns beginning the downward spiral of many a great champion, time unfortunately catches up with all of them.

[the nugget]

"Are you leaving the game in good hands?" I got the imnpression his first answer was "Who cares?" and then he decided to be a bit morediplomatic!

It seems odd when anyone reaches the peak of their sport and actually doesn't appear to have all that much love for the sport itself. I'm a boxing fan, and it was the same when a young Jermain Taylor pulled off a shock win to overthrow long-reigning middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins - when interviewedm he said he didn't really watch boxing growing up as his mum and sistersa would be watching soaps, and he wasn't all that interested in watching it now, it's just something he was good at.

Yep gav the same thought ran thru my head when he was asked that question also.

[outsider]

In the last few months of 1994 when i watched Snooker for the first time (on TV),i immediately fell in love with the game and i have since then followed almost all the tournaments. It took a few tournaments before i could see that Hendry was a head and shoulder above the rest and he became my number 1 player. He has given me a lot of pleasure with his attacking snooker.

I will always remember Hendry for his attacking style, but mostly for going for a long pot and making a total clearance, developing the reds from the blue in his first possible chance, his bravery to go for long diagonal blue shots in the middle of a break whenever he lost position (which separated him from everyone else back then) and of cource his ability to score century after century and above all his consistency during the 90's.

Thank you very much Stephen for all the excitement you gave us and success with the rest of your life.

[scapps42]

Ive been watching Hendry since he came on the snooker scene in 1986 and it was a huge shock to hear of his retirement, perhaps he can enter next years world championship as a non tour player just to keep on the scene a tiny bit and hopefully still be a commentator and not disappear altogether . Also wouldn't it be great if Hendry wrote another book about his life and achievements in his glorious career

[debs]

I was gutted when I first posted, wiping the tears away, my sporting hero, at least I can remember him in his prime, I've see him live too in 2001 or 2002, I'll find out which year it was, I love seeing the best of the best at pro sport, regardless of which sport it is!

Yes me too i feel a bit silly but..... Like J Johnstone said we will never forget the way he made us feel xxx

[debs]

Am I the only one who felt let down by the Hendry tribute this afternoon? I mean I can't stand the guy but I recognise his achievements and wanted to ensure I saw a fitting tribute to the man who changed the nature of the game. They said we'd see an "honour guard of former world champions" and Rob Walker said immediately beforehand "I don't think he realises just how much effort has gone into this..." And we got Davis, Parrott, Doherty and Griffiths, in shirtsleeves, and then a brief standing ovation.

Is that it? I mean I know it was a surprise retirement but surely that level of achievement deserves more than Ronnie got for making 128 the other day? Why not wait and do it properly? I'm sure Jimmy would have come along, Murphy would surely have agreed, as would Higgins etc. Get every world champion you can lay your hands on to come to Sheffield for Monday night, all in full dress, into the arena and give him the tribute he deserves.

Yes i expected more too where was Ebdon he is always hanging about??? But then i thought the way Stephen has played this all out, the low profile under the radar way, well then i thought it will suit him.
I mean it must be so hard for him to say goodbye unlike others who quote Higgins saying he loves to win for me it was more than that!
But like you i think before the end of this years World something must be done for him!!
Hazel never fails to get me crying the little devil i think if she gets at him, if\when they do it properly we might just see the Iceman crack lol
But joking aside i do think they should do more!!!

[stylishkidsintheriot]

Very sad when I heard the news, he was playing in the first snooker match I ever saw, will never forget how engaging it was, he will always be the king of the crucible (and snooker!)

[breakman16]

He and maybe phil taylor are the greatest champions the uk have produced.

Agree, said the same about Hendry for years, and Taylor DEFINITELY one of the most successful sportsmen to ever live, he is the Don Bradman/Pele of sport! Unbelievable doesnt do Taylor any justice any more. . .

[Daniel Cowham]

I am devastated by this decision, but not surprised. I've been a fan of Stephen's since 1987 and been going to watch him play at tournaments since 1990. People have asked me when he would retire and my answer was when he drops out of the top 16, because I knew he'd hate playing in the qualifiers. He's given me so many happy memories and I would like to thank him for 25 wonderful years.

Do you think they'll make a DVD about his careeer? I know there was a VHS made in the 90s called The Maestro, so an updated version would be nice.

[debs]

Probably, yes in my Christmas list lol. But failing that theres a guy here with loads of stuff!!!

http://www.thesnookerforum.com/board...-wanted-on-dvd

[breakman16]

I am devastated by this decision, but not surprised. I've been a fan of Stephen's since 1987 and been going to watch him play at tournaments since 1990. People have asked me when he would retire and my answer was when he drops out of the top 16, because I knew he'd hate playing in the qualifiers. He's given me so many happy memories and I would like to thank him for 25 wonderful years.

Do you think they'll make a DVD about his careeer? I know there was a VHS made in the 90s called The Maestro, so an updated version would be nice.

I hope so, I'd buy it, one of my sporting heros, should have all his ranking event wins on it, and an interview about his mental state in matches and attitude and approach to them, the time is right to get one out in the next 2 years!!

[LittleMissAlexa]

I hope so, I'd buy it, one of my sporting heros, should have all his ranking event wins on it, and an interview about his mental state in matches and attitude and approach to them, the time is right to get one out in the next 2 years!!

i was never a big fan due to his robotic persona but he did so well in his career and will be missed

[recoil]

Farewell The Greatest!