Stephen Hendry will not attempt to qualify for the 2022 World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
The seven-time world champion had been expected to give it another crack in the qualifiers at the English Institute of Sport this year.
But with the deadline for entry now passed, the absence of Hendry’s name puts his competitive future in doubt.
The Scot’s two-year invitational tour card will expire at the end of this season, and it is uncertain whether or not he’ll be offered a new one.
When Hendry made the decision to come back to the Main Tour in 2020 after an eight-year absence, it created widespread excitement and many sports news headlines.
But the 53 year-old has barely played since then, competing in only eleven matches in total, from which he’s won just three times.
The highlight for Hendry came during last year’s World Snooker Championship qualifiers when he beat old rival Jimmy White in a dream draw.
But a heavy defeat in the next round ended his main goal of participating at the Crucible Theatre again.
Despite starting this campaign by entering several events, Hendry generally struggled to produce any consistent form.
Having not played since November, there were queries since as to why he bothered with the comeback if he wasn’t going to give it his full attention.
Now it seems clearer that Hendry may not continue, meaning his short-lived revival could be at a limp end.
Meanwhile, the World Championship qualifying tournament will feature 128 players, who will each be vying for one of 16 coveted spots available in Sheffield.
There will be plenty of big names involved, including former world champions Graeme Dott and Ken Doherty, six-time finalist Jimmy White, women’s world champion Nutcharut Wongharuthai, and former world number one Ding Junhui.
As usual, the top 16 in the official world rankings list will gain automatic qualification, with those places to be confirmed after the next two ranking events on the calendar.
Featured photo credit: WSS
No great surprise. Would be nice to hear why he’s opted not to play since November when he actually said he was enjoying the comeback.