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 file 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 acquired his juices flowing once more.
And he can be one among 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 routinely 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 newbie over 40 paying £100 and taking part in off in heats for one among 4 spots to affix the legends.
Present tour members older than 40 have been prior to now controversially included within the Seniors, however professionals have now been kicked out.
Newbie winners of 4 regional qualifying occasions will go up in opposition to the well-known names in what Hendry sees as a possible ‘Rocky’-style situation.
And will they raise the trophy that may see them on the identical stage because the participant ranked No17 on the earth – three wins from the sport’s most well-known stage.
Hendry, who can even co-promote the occasion, stated: “The final yr or so I’ve missed taking part in snooker a bit extra – possibly it’s all the TV work I’ve carried out 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. Previously tour professionals aged 40 or extra have been allowed to play.
“You had individuals like Mark Williams who have been high 16 gamers on tour, and it needs to be a novel occasion other than the tour.
“And possibly that put a few of the former high-profile gamers off from getting into. I and John Parrot are usually not going to compete with high tour execs.
“Folks 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 a fantastic likelihood 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.
“It will likely be critical 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 can be again there within the subsequent week. I simply wish to play.
“The prospect for any newbie to pay their £100 and have the prospect to qualify and play us, and even win it and get within the Crucible qualifiers is wonderful.
“It might be a ticket to the World Championship – and virtually just like the Rocky story when Apollo Creed picked him as a result of he was from Philadelphia.
“Somebody may 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.”
