MEAN STREAK
‘He was guilty of posing’ – Stephen Hendry flips script on snooker star as he points out new ‘nastiness’ in his game
And it's paid off in spectacular fashion...
NOT so long ago, he was called out for being too nice.
But now, Stephen Hendry has noticed a nasty side in one of his former snooker rivals.
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The Masters has been taking place this week and seven-time world champion Hendry was on duty as a pundit for the BBC during the competition.
Tonight saw Shaun Murphy face off against world champion Kyren Wilson for the coveted Triple Crown title.
And it was world no. 7 Murphy who triumphed, winning 10-7 at the Ally Pally.
Hendry previously called Murphy out for applauding his opponent during a China Open match last year.
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However as he headed into tonight's final, Hendry spotted a new mean streak in the Englishman, himself a former world champion.
Hendry said: "Shaun said at the UK Championships that he was too nice. He certainly looks an angrier snooker player out there, a more determined snooker player.
"Shaun was guilty in the past, I thought, of posing a little bit.
"He'd be looking about smiling, I always thought he needed a bit of nastiness.
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"A mean Shaun Murphy could be a dangerous proposition.
"I've looked at Shaun sitting in his chair and he's very rarely taken his eye off the table. Normally he'd be looking all over the place.
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"He'd still win matches, don't get me wrong, but there's definitely been a change. He should be focusing on the win and nothing else."
It appears to have worked, with Murphy having to come from behind to claim the Paul Hunter Trophy this evening.
The 42-year-old himself said after clinching victory: “I can’t believe it. I’m in shock.
“If I’m totally honest I thought these days had gone. When I lost to Mark Selby in the world final in 2021 I thought my days at the business end of these big events were behind me.
“There’s still a bit of life in the old dog yet.
“This is right up there in terms of my achievements. This win is arguably as big, if not bigger, than completing the Triple Crown in 2015.
“It’s been an incredible week with the 147 and now the title, especially after missing the 147 in the match before.
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“Kyren carries that mantle of being world champion so well. Every credit to him. He really stuck it to me and it was panic stations for a while there for me.”
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