Chris Wakelin beat Liam Pullen to achieve the second spherical of the World Snooker Championship and the English star had loads to say about Stephen Hendry.
Chris Wakelin says Stephen Hendry would not charge him (Picture: BBC)
Chris Wakelin took a post-victory dig at long-standing critic and BBC pundit Stephen Hendry. The No.13 seed says he can be first in line to congratulate Ronnie O’Sullivan ought to he clinch an eighth World Championship title to surpass the Scot within the snooker file books.
Wakelin defeated Liam Pullen to advance into spherical two, a end result that introduced specific satisfaction to the 34-year-old after as soon as once more feeling unfairly written off by the seven-time Crucible king. The English star stated: “Somebody who would not charge me in any respect is Stephen Hendry. Even on his Youtube the opposite day, which I am a giant fan of and watch it each week, he stated on there that he fancied Liam to beat me, and within the subsequent breath he stated I’ve by no means seen him play earlier than. No matter.
“After I performed him a number of years in the past [British Open qualifiers in 2021] everybody was ringing me up earlier than and saying: Oh you are enjoying him, he is come again.
“I assumed I would have a bit of dig so after they requested me: Are you wanting ahead to enjoying a seven-time world champion and legend? I stated I used to be a bit younger to recollect when he was at his finest, however my mum was an enormous fan! After which he beat me!
“He clearly would not charge me in any respect as a result of I am not World No.1 or World Champion or World Champion previously, but it surely’s my job simply to go on the market and give attention to my recreation.
“I’ve acquired a large quantity of respect for anybody who’s ever gained a match on this recreation, it is so troublesome. Stephen being a seven-time world champion, I’ve acquired nothing however admiration for the man. However he clearly would not assume I am any good.
Chris Wakelin known as Stephen Hendry out after his win (Picture: Getty)
“Each single gamers’ occasion, at any time when I am enjoying a match on TV, he all the time says the opposite man goes to win. I chuckle about it each time and it offers me loads of pleasure to simply go on the market and do my factor.
“You are all the time going to have critics on this sport as you do in each sport, so it would not shock me within the slightest.”
Hendry and O’Sullivan are stage on seven World titles apiece and, with the Scot having hung up his cue, The Rocket has the prospect to consign him to the historical past books.
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Wakelin believes he would relish that second, saying with a smile: “Oh yeah, simply to see his face on the finish. They’re going to positively stick him on commentary for the ultimate session of the ultimate.
“It is going to be a very long time coming and it could be fairly humorous. I would be on the entrance of the queue to congratulate Ronnie.”
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