BBC pundit Stephen Hendry publicly called out by snooker star as row breaks out | Other | Sport

Chris Wakelin took a post-victory dig at long-standing critic and BBC pundit Stephen Hendry. The No.13 seed says he would be first in line to congratulate Ronnie O’Sullivan should he clinch an eighth World Championship title to surpass the Scot in the snooker record books.

Wakelin defeated Liam Pullen to advance into round two, a result that brought particular satisfaction to the 34-year-old after once again feeling unfairly written off by the seven-time Crucible king. The English star said: “Someone who doesn’t rate me at all is Stephen Hendry. Even on his Youtube the other day, which I’m a big fan of and watch it every week, he said on there that he fancied Liam to beat me, and in the next breath he said I’ve never seen him play before. Whatever.

“When I played him a few years ago [British Open qualifiers in 2021] everyone was ringing me up before and saying: Oh you’re playing him, he’s come back.

“I thought I’d have a little dig so when they asked me: Are you looking forward to playing a seven-time world champion and legend? I said I was a bit young to remember when he was at his best, but my mum was a huge fan! And then he beat me!

“He obviously doesn’t rate me at all because I’m not World No.1 or World Champion or World Champion in the past, but it’s my job just to go out there and focus on my game.

“I’ve got a massive amount of respect for anyone who’s ever won a tournament in this game, it’s so difficult. Stephen being a seven-time world champion, I’ve got nothing but admiration for the guy. But he clearly doesn’t think I’m any good.

“Every single players’ event, whenever I’m playing a match on TV, he always says the other guy is going to win. I laugh about it every time and it gives me a lot of pleasure to just go out there and do my thing.

“You’re always going to have critics in this sport as you do in every sport, so it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.”

Hendry and O’Sullivan are level on seven World titles apiece and, with the Scot having hung up his cue, The Rocket has the chance to consign him to the history books.

Wakelin believes he would relish that moment, saying with a grin: “Oh yeah, just to see his face at the end. They’ll definitely stick him on commentary for the final session of the final.

“It will be a long time coming and it would be quite funny. I’d be at the front of the queue to congratulate Ronnie.”