Stephen Hendry tells snooker players to ‘bore off’ with ‘horrendous’ niceties

Snooker legend Stephen Hendry is no fan of players apologising for flukes or congratulating opponents for good shots, telling current stars to ‘bore off’ with their niceties. The seven-time world champion was known for his cold and steely demeanour during his pomp in the 1990s, showing little emotion at the table.

That attitude extended off the baize as well, with the Scot not doing too much socialising with his fellow players. Things are a bit friendlier in the sport these days, with many players close pals off the table, while etiquette during matches has arguably become more demonstrative.

Hendry hates it. The 56-year-old does not like apologies when a player gets lucky and cannot believe how often he sees taps on the table to congratulate a good safety shot. He reckons world number one Judd Trump does not express these niceties as much as other players and feels that is no coincidence.

‘It’s horrendous!’ Hendry fumed on the Snooker Club podcast. ‘And do you know what’s even worse? Every good safety shot is a tap on the table now. What is going on? Sometimes it’s not even getting to the cushion and it’s tap the table, tap the table, oh it’s so nice, lovely, tap the table, lovely shot.

‘I mean, bore off! You’re there to win, who are these people?. ‘Judd Trump never apologises for a fluke, hardly ever. And he never says “good shot” and taps the table, ever. And he’s world number one, won everything. You do the maths!’. It is not the first time this season that Hendry has questioned the pleasantries on show during matches as he was baffled by Shaun Murphy applauding Xiao Guodong at the Wuhan Open after his opponent made three centuries on the spin.

‘What is Shaun doing?’ Hendry asked. ‘Shaun was staying in the same hotel as me in Wuhan and we were having a drink one night. I love Shaun, the way he talks, but sitting there applauding your opponent, that cannot be the way forward!. ‘He’s different and he’s great for the game, an unbelievable ambassador, but sat in the chair actually applauding? I’ve tapped my knee when someone’s made a great break before, but to actually applaud like you’re at the theatre?’.

Hendry has spoken in the past about how remaining aloof and distanced from his fellow players helped keep him at the top and when he lowered those barriers he was diminished as a champion. ‘In the 90s I never socialised with other players. That changed,’ Hendry told The Guardian back in 2018. ‘I wanted to spend more time in the players’ lounge. I became friendly with Mark Williams.

‘There’s no doubt it affected my invincibility. Ronnie O’Sullivan is still the best player in the world on his day now and he doesn’t mix with the players. You need that coldness. ‘But I missed out as a teenager and thought: “I want to enjoy being with people and going out for dinner.” It was to my detriment as a competitive animal.’.

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