Snooker Legend Stephen Hendry Announces Shock Return
Snooker icon Stephen Hendry has confirmed he will make a surprise return to competitive action this month, joining a prestigious field of former world champions for the Snooker 900 Crucible Cup. The seven-time world champion, who initially retired in 2012, will take to the baize once more in what promises to be a spectacular event.
Star-Studded Line-Up and Tournament Details
The eight-player field features an incredible array of snooker talent, including former world champions John Higgins, Mark Selby, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson. They are joined by Barry Hawkins, Gary Wilson and Xiao Guodong to complete the impressive roster. The tournament will be held at the Crucible Club in Reading on November 24-25 and boasts a prize fund exceeding £70,000.
Fans can watch all the action live on Pluto TV or stream it via the Pluto TV app. For those wanting to experience the excitement in person, tournament organiser Jason Francis confirmed that spectators can attend for just a £5 club guest fee, offering incredible value for a full day of world-class snooker.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The Snooker 900 format introduces exciting changes to traditional snooker, featuring 15-minute frames with a 20-second shot clock. Players must either pot a ball or hit a cushion with every shot, with fouls resulting in ball-in-hand for the opponent. While other 900 tournaments use one-frame shootouts, the Crucible Cup will be played over best-of-11 matches, with the final extending to best-of-13 frames.
The action begins on Monday afternoon with John Higgins facing Barry Hawkins, followed by Hendry's highly anticipated match against Neil Robertson. Monday evening sees Mark Selby take on Xiao Guodong, while Mark Williams meets Gary Wilson. The semi-finals follow on Tuesday afternoon, with the final taking place later that same evening.
Hendry expressed his excitement about returning to competitive action, posting on his Instagram: 'Looking forward to getting the cue out for this.' This will mark the Scottish legend's first competitive appearance since his Welsh Open qualifier defeat to Ross Muir in January 2024.
Broader Snooker Landscape and Future Events
Ronnie O'Sullivan, though not participating in this event, has thrown his support behind the new Pluto Snooker 900 channel and confirmed he will compete in a 900 tournament next year. The Rocket posted on social media: 'Great news to see 7 of the top 16 announced for the Crucible Cup... The 8th isn't me this time but I'll be playing in the 900 in 2026.'
Another 900 tournament is scheduled for the week before on November 17-19, featuring snooker stars including Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, Stuart Bingham, Reanne Evans and Robert Milkins. These events are possible because professional players can now compete in televised tournaments outside the World Snooker Tour, provided they don't clash with professional events they could enter.
The Crucible Cup conveniently takes place during UK Championship qualifying, and since all participating professionals are ranked in the world's top 16, they aren't involved in the qualification process. Similarly, players in the previous week's event aren't involved in the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship beginning November 19, allowing them to compete freely.
