Snooker: Hendry dumbstruck by defeat

Sunday 18 January 1998 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Jamie Burnett, the 22-year-old world No 38, last night beat Stephen Hendry in a world ranking event for the second time in three months.

The Scot defeated the world No 1 5-4 in the second round of the Regal Welsh Open at Newport, having put Hendry out of the Grand Prix at the corresponding stage in October.

Hendry, the six-times world champion, again took the defeat hard and was clearly stunned as the post-match news conference got under way. A number of questions were fired at him but he failed to respond to any of them.

Burnett won the opening two frames but when Hendry bounced back with runs of 67, 100, 40 and 85 to establish a 4-2 advantage the possibility of a shock seemed to have disappeared, but Burnett is confident after reaching the quarter-finals of last month's German Open, his personal best in six years on the professional circuit. He comfortably accounted for the next two frames before ensuring a major surprise by stealing a scrappy deciding frame on the blue.

Defeat leaves Hendry, who won the Regal Welsh title last year, still searching for his first trophy of the season. Out-of-form Hendry has not won a title since the Benson and Hedges Irish Masters in March.

He was not the only household name to go out. Ken Doherty, who became world champion by beating Hendry in the final last season, also suffered a shock defeat when, after leading 3-1, he was beaten 5-3 by Swansea's Tony Chappel.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in