SNOOKER legend Stephen Hendry has decided now is the time to finally hang up his cue.
The seven-time world champion has turned down a two-year invitational wildcard to compete on the World Snooker Tour.
The King of the Crucible officially retired in 2012 despite pocketing a memorable maximum 147 break at the World Championship.
He made a shock announcement when he came of retirement nine years later.
However, golden oldie Hendry struggled to rediscover his brilliant best form on the baize – and at 55 has now quit the sport for good.
He said: “Let’s be honest, I wasn’t pulling up any trees was I?
“I was a little bit surprised with how good the standard was, but I’ve just got so many other work commitments I won’t be able to dedicate enough time to practising.
“I know the game inside out, I still know all the shots, but unfortunately the body is not performing like my brain wants it too.
“I wasn’t putting in the effort the last couple of season and, with all my TV commitments and my YouTube channel, it’s just not feasible to do myself justice.”
Hendry recently spent a month working in China, where he does a lot of ambassadorial work and revealed: “I’m going to be in China for four or five months a year, plus I’ve got all my TV work and everything else.
“And the other thing is that if you’re not playing regularly on these (qualifying) tables you’re going to struggle.”
Long-term rival Jimmy White is still playing on the professional tour aged 62, while former world champion Ken Doherty, 54, – one of Hendry’s good mates – has just accepted a two-year wildcard to professional career.
Hendry, winner of 36 ranking titles during a distinguished career, added: “I totally admire Ken and Jimmy for their dedication, at the end of the day snooker is in our blood, it’s all we’ve ever known.
“The only thing I’m disappointed in is that my golf is going to have go on the back-burner!”
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