STEPHEN HENDRY couldn’t resist cheekily teasing a fellow snooker star at the centre of an astonishing controversy.
And he accused the potter of behaving like John McEnroe!
Hendry, 55, might have retired but he’s as prominent as ever on the snooker scene thanks to his popular YouTube show.
In the latest episode of Cue Tips, he’s been speaking to one of snooker’s most controversial stars.
Matthew Selt made headlines at the end of last year after a remarkable meltdown DURING a game.
The 39-year old was visibly irate as he battled Latvian teenager Artemijs Zizin in a German Masters qualifier.
Zizins fluked a match-ball red in the last frame of their best-of-nine encounter.
That prompted Selt to yell “OH MY GOD” in visible frustration.
As Zizins prepared to clear the table and seal the frame, Selt stood up, shook his hand and began to pack his cue away.
18-year old Zizins was baffled as Selt stormed off, before loud bangs and sounds of crashing could be heard off camera.
The referee pleaded for calm, only for Selt to bellow “shut up!”
Selt joined Hendry for his YouTube show the very next day, but it’s only now being released.
And unsurprisingly, the seven-time world champion quickly took Selt to task.
He said: “So I did get to watch the video. He fluked the free ball red and you were sat in the chair. You did the loudest ‘oh my god’ I’ve ever seen.”
Selt replied: “Listen, it is what it is. You know, the kid fluked a match ball. He played great and I let the emotion out.
“I’d already, you know, once he potted the ball. I couldn’t win so it wa not a case of doing something that would have distracted him or put him off.
“The match was over and it was just a natural reaction. I didn’t put the kid off so I don’t see what the problem is really.
“But no listen it was a great game. “It was just a tough loss because I actually played quite well. I missed a couple of easy balls.
“I missed the boat early on but ultimately it was a match I needed to win. I didn’t and it was just a natural reaction. You know, if you watch the video at the end, I said a couple of times ‘well done, well played.'”
On telling the referee to shut up, Selt added: “You know what that was. I was already out of the cubicle on my way home and I’ve got someone shouting after me like ‘what are you doing?’
“Just leave me alone. I’m just trying to get back as quick as I can.”
Selt also confirmed that he’d DAMAGED his cue.
He said: “A new cue because obviously you’ve heard in the video I threw my cue several times on the way out.
“The case is damaged, the cue was not in an orthodox position when I opened it up. So we’re going to use a new cue.”
Hendry told Selt his behaviour was “McEnroe-esque” in a reference to the famously hot-headed tennis legend.
Selt joined Hendry for a ‘money match,’ a new feature on the YouTube series.
It sees Hendry take a 30-point head start and the winner is forced to buy the losing player dinner.
But during the course of the game, Hendry couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at Selt’s expense.
Selt fluked a red which Hendry appeared to miss as he was mid-sentence.
After asking Selt what had happened, the Englishman replied: “I fluked one – just when I needed it!”
Seven-time World Snooker Champion
Youngest-ever winner of World Championship
Six-time Masters Champion
Five-time UK Championship winner
18 Triple Crown tournament wins
36 ranking titles
Nine seasons as World No1
Awarded MBE in 1994
Two-time BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year
Hendry, mimicking Selt’s behaviour the night before, then screamed “OH MY GOD” before bursting into laughter.
The cheeky dig either went unnoticed or unappreciated by Selt, who simply didn’t respond to it.
Selt went on to beat Hendry 3-1, after which Hendry aimed another cheeky dig at him.
Immediately after losing, the Scot joked: “Even with a defeat last night, I was admiring your temperament.”
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