'Hendry is a different monster' - Ronnie O'Sullivan unsure how Stephen Hendry will take to tour life

ByAlex Livie

Updated 18/02/2021 at 18:26 GMT

Stephen Hendry will make his return to action at the Gibraltar Open next month, following nine years in retirement. Ronnie O'Sullivan has given his opinion on the Scot's return to the tour. "I just don't know if he is that kind of animal. He just wants to win, win," was the current world champion's view.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is unsure how Stephen Hendry’s return to the snooker tour will play out, as he is concerned the Scot does not have the mentality to merely play and enjoy the game.

Hendry confirmed this week that he would end nine years in retirement with an appearance at the Gibraltar Open next month, having been granted a two-year card after floating the idea of coming back to the sport.

The 52-year-old is the game’s most dominant player, having won the World Championship on seven occasions, and O’Sullivan is concerned as to how he will approach his return to the sport.

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O'Sullivan - a six-time world champion - feels at Hendry’s age he needs to embrace playing the game alongside his off-table activities, but believes the Scot may be consumed by his competitive instincts.

“Anybody finds it tough,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport when asked about Hendry’s return to snooker. “You have to play really well to get results.

“If Stephen can stick to what he’s doing - he does a lot of Instagram stuff, he has his TV punditry stuff. As long as he doesn’t say ‘right, I’m a full-time snooker player’ and invest 24-7 into snooker then he will be fine.

It is a grind. If he is enjoying life off the table and comes to tournaments and enjoys it and has a bit of fun then he will enjoy it.

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“I just don't know if he is that kind of animal. He just wants to win, win. If it’s me I just want to play. But Hendry is a different monster. He’s like Tiger Woods.”

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