Stephen Hendry refused to purchase right into a declare made by Kyren Wilson following his Gamers Championship disappointment.
Kyren Wilson’s World Grand Prix defeat dominated him out of the Gamers Championship (Picture: Getty)
Stephen Hendry has rubbished Kyren Wilson’s declare that he’ll profit from not collaborating within the Gamers Championship. The 34-year-old is not going to defend his title on the Gamers Championship 2026 this week after failing to qualify for the match.
That’s because of the 5-2 loss Wilson suffered to Xiao Guodong within the World Grand Prix last-32 earlier this month. The defeat in Hong Kong noticed the 2024 world champion drop outdoors the top-16 within the one-year rating listing, having wanted to achieve the semis to qualify. Wilson’s poor rating occasion kind, regardless of profitable the 2025 Gamers Championship and the Masters this season, guidelines him out of the motion in Telford.
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Regardless of the plain disappointment and psychological blow of not collaborating within the prestigious invitational match, the place the winner will declare £150,000, Wilson insisted his absence might be a blessing disguise. Talking previous to his Hong Kong exit, he instructed that not qualifying for the Gamers Championship would not be the top of the world, even when it could make it tougher for him to qualify for the Tour Championship, which he’s presently scheduled to overlook primarily based on the one-year rankings, earlier than the World Championship in Sheffield.
Wilson stated: “I at all times suppose within the New Yr, how am I going to spend it? Am I going to exit to see my pals in China and do just a few exhibitions, am I going to apply by it, am I going to calm down? You goal the Masters after which off the again of that you simply look in direction of the worlds.
“For me, I am considering proper, I actually wish to be within the Gamers [Championship], I will not lie. If I am not in it I will be gutted. I then wish to qualify for the Tour [Championship] and I do know I can try this by the World Open and the Welsh Open. They’re two large tournaments with large alternatives so okay it could suck to overlook out on the Gamers and being defending champion I do not wish to not also have a probability of defending the title, however Shaun [Murphy] did it final yr.
Hendry says lacking out on the Gamers Championship is not a blessing (Picture: Getty)
“Shaun beat me within the last of the Tour Championship the yr earlier than after which did not qualify to defend for it. But additionally the yr I gained the World Championship I had like three or 4 weeks off and I truly went on vacation and I used to be so recent for the worlds. I feel the worlds which have simply gone I might burnt myself out for the primary spherical, so in my thoughts I am considering win-win scenario. I wish to be within the tournaments, if I am not then I can go and have a break and go into the worlds hell for leather-based.”
However snooker legend Hendry disagreed along with his feedback on The Snooker Membership podcast following Wilson’s World Grand Prix exit which meant he did not qualify for the Gamers Championship. On whether or not it is going to be odd for Wilson to not be on the Gamers Championship, Hendry stated: “Yeah, I’m not so certain. He stated if he’s not in it he’d have a giant break earlier than Sheffield and are available out more energizing however I’m not shopping for that in any respect.
“I imply, the very fact is he’s not going to be in a match he gained final yr.” Reflecting on Wilson’s attainable absence from the Tour Championship later within the yr, Hendry added: “The Tour Championship in Manchester is a giant occasion earlier than Sheffield… the highest gamers will wish to play in every little thing, all the highest tournaments, in any sport. So I’m not satisfied by that.”
Wilson’s fellow professional Chris Wakelin, additionally showing on the podcast, then stated: “The final time he didn’t qualify for the Tour Championship was the identical yr he didn’t qualify for the Gamers Championship and the Grand Prix, which was additionally the identical yr he gained the World Championship.”
Hendry continued: “He made that argument to us earlier than he performed in Hong Kong, that it might be a blessing in disguise and that he’d be recent. However you continue to don’t wish to be at house watching different gamers play on TV. I’m not shopping for that.”
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Steven Hallworth chimed in by saying: “Particularly when it’s truly your trophy as properly. It’s going to kill him, it’s certainly going to kill him [to see that] as a result of he can’t maintain his trophy, can he?” Hendry then added: “It might properly work for him when it comes to Sheffield however yeah, I do not imagine you do not wish to be in tournaments.”
Wilson had stated after his exit to Xiao: “I struggled right now and Xiao performed very, excellent. I used to be simply attempting to hold on to him. I really feel unhealthy for this match, to be sincere. I feel the Hong Kong World Grand Prix deserves to be higher. Straight from Germany, it’s very, very troublesome to reach right here on one or two days’ apply and sleep, after which attempt to carry out in such a unbelievable occasion.”
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