Stephen Hendry has opened the door to the potential for a Crucible Theatre return by signing up for revamped World Seniors Championship in March.
The document seven-time world champion retired from skilled competitors 5 years in the past after a glittering and trophy-laden profession.
However Hendry, now 48, admits that watching a lot snooker from the studio and commentary field for tv has bought his juices flowing once more.
And he will likely be considered one of eight legends within the draw, alongside John Parrott, Cliff Thorburn, Dennis Taylor, Joe Johnson and Willie Thorne, for the event to be staged in Scunthorpe in March.
Crucially the winner, in addition to the £10,000 first prize, will mechanically obtain a spot within the World Championship qualifiers – simply three victories from the Crucible.
And that golden ticket can also be being thrown open to any novice over 40 paying £100 and enjoying off in heats for considered one of 4 spots to hitch the legends.
Present tour members older than 40 have been up to now controversially included within the Seniors, however professionals have now been kicked out.
Beginner winners of 4 regional qualifying occasions will go up towards the well-known names in what Hendry sees as a possible ‘Rocky’-style state of affairs.
And may they elevate the trophy that may see them on the identical stage because the participant ranked No17 on the planet – three wins from the sport’s most well-known stage.
Hendry, who may even co-promote the occasion, stated: “The final yr or so I’ve missed enjoying snooker a bit extra – perhaps it’s all the TV work I’ve performed making we wish to compete.
“I’ve no intention of coming again on the tour full time, however I wish to play extra.
“The Seniors has had a revamp and gone again to nostalgia, plus an opportunity for amateurs to have their day. Up to now tour professionals aged 40 or extra have been allowed to play.
“You had individuals like Mark Williams who have been prime 16 gamers on tour, and it ought to be a novel occasion other than the tour.
“And perhaps that put a few of the former high-profile gamers off from coming into. I and John Parrot aren’t going to compete with prime tour professionals.
“Individuals get an opportunity to see gamers they bear in mind, quite than the identical gamers they see each week.
“And the brand new format combines legends from the previous with an incredible probability for amateurs over 40 to pay £100 to enter a qualifier, with the carrot for the Seniors winner of a spot within the World Championship.
“Will probably be severe as a result of we don’t like shedding, and probably the most aggressive occasion I’ve performed in since 2013 and the Seniors in Portsmouth – so simply the second occasion since I retired.
“I’ve practised at Coulsdon with Jimmy White and Marco Fu and I will likely be again there within the subsequent week. I simply wish to play.
“The prospect for any novice to pay their £100 and have the possibility to qualify and play us, and even win it and get within the Crucible qualifiers is superb.
“It could possibly be a ticket to the World Championship – and nearly just like the Rocky story when Apollo Creed picked him as a result of he was from Philadelphia.
“Somebody might come out of the woodwork, win the qualifier to get to the Seniors, win this after which be in on the identical place because the world No17, needing to win three video games to be on the Crucible.
“What a narrative that may be. It’s a short-frame format, so that they have an opportunity.”
