Snooker legend Stephen Hendry has told how he didn’t leave his flat for days because he was so upset after being beaten by the Crucible Curse.
The Scot dominated the sport in the 1990s, winning seven world titles in Sheffield. This is now a joint record in the modern era with only Ronnie O’Sullivan being able to match it since.
But there was a low point during the height of Hendry’s dominance.
In 1990, Hendry won his first World Championship and was odds-on to retain the coveted title when he returned to Sheffield twelve months later.
Hendry entered the 1991 World Championship looking to become the first player to beat the Crucible Curse. The curse relates to the fact that no first time World Championship winner at the Crucible has defended their title the following year.
Hendry was tipped to become the first player to do so. But his quarter-final opponent Steve James had other ideas and put an end to his hopes with a 13-11 victory at the quarter-final stage.
World number nine at the time, James produced a career-best display to overcome Hendry but was convincingly beaten in the following round by Jimmy White, much to the Scot’s frustration. John Parrott went on to win the World Championship that year.
“I’d thought I’d won before I’d even got to the table”
Referring to the match in his autobiography “Me and the Table”, Hendry felt the defeat came as a result of overconfidence. He recalls: “I know for sure I was overconfident, my problem was that I’d thought I’d won before I’d even got to the table.”
But the defeat hurt Hendry. It hurt him so much so he did not want to watch the rest of the tournament on the TV. He returned to Scotland soon after the loss and “sulked” in his apartment for days mulling over his defeat.
He adds: “The only word I say during the whole journey from Sheffield to South Queensferry (four hours) is ‘thanks’, when he (driver) drops me off. The loss has cut deep, for the next few days I don’t answer any phone calls or leave the flat. I’m speechless with fury at myself.”
The 2025 World Championship starts on Saturday April 19. This year’s edition will have eyes on whether Kyren Wilson can become the first reigning Crucible champion to beat the curse.
Wilson won the world title for the first time after beating Welshman Jak Jones in the 2024 final 18-14. Since then he has enjoyed more success winning four ranking titles this season.
Earlier this year Wilson reportedly talked up his chances of beating the Curse. He was quoted as saying: “I will win the Worlds”.
Stephen Hendry’s autobiography Me and The Table is available in all good book stores. It is published by John Blake Books.
2 thoughts on “Stephen Hendry ‘sulked in apartment for a week’ after Crucible Curse loss”