Stephen Hendry beaten by his ex-wife’s nephew James Cahill as he crashes out of World Snooker Championship
STEPHEN HENDRY reckons his lack of match sharpness derailed his World Snooker Championship campaign.
The Scot was defeated 10-4 in the first round of qualifying last night by his ex-wife’s nephew James Cahill.
Though Hendry scored a 102 in his opening frame – the 777th century break of his illustrious career – he was left ruing missed opportunities in the first session at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
This was only Hendry’s fourth match of the season and he has now conceded he should have perhaps figured more on the baize to establish some rhythm.
The seven-time world snooker champion – who received a wildcard to play on the Tour – has missed out on a glorious return to the famous Yorkshire theatre for the first time since 2012.
Hendry, 54, will now head to the Crucible in a BBC commentating capacity.
He said: “I had a great start, century number 777 in the first frame. That is a much cooler number than 776.
“I don’t know, maybe it worked against me actually. It was weird, I came down to earth quickly.
“I had loads of chances in the next 2-3 frames. They were very scrappy. James didn’t play well either. I should have been 3-1 in front.
“Too many bad shots, I think that is what not playing enough competitive snooker does for you.
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“I should have cut out missing easy shots and the unforced errors, which I am always criticising other people for on TV.
“I want to keep playing. It is a very distant dream in the future that one day I will walk out at the Crucible again. It is very doubtful. Huge odds against me doing so. But that is the dream.”
Blackpool potter Cahill, who is close pals with one of Hendry's sons, top-scored with a 77 in frame three and he will now face Chinese teenager Lei Peifan.
Cahill, 27, said: “I thought as long as I find my game, I should win.
“I have not felt great today. I have an ear infection, a bit of a sore throat. I hope I can get over that for the next match.
“It wasn’t awkward. His son is my best friend. So, it was a little bit funny in that sense. I think other people made it a bigger deal than it was.”
Jimmy White, the six-time Crucible finalist, is really up against in his qualifier after falling 7-2 down to amateur Martin O’Donnell.
Stan Moody, a 16-year-old amateur from Halifax, is 8-1 down to China’s Zhang Anda with 10 the number of frames required to progress.