Every once in a while a sports star is born that simply demolishes all that went before them. They are peerless.

America has them in abundance: Mohammad Ali, Tiger Woods and Michael Johnson to name but a few. Mainland Europe isn’t short on talent either, with the likes of Roger Federer, Annika Sorenstam and Michael Schumacher flying their respective flags. They can share Martina Navratilova to avoid arguments.

But in Scotland we have, on our very own doorstep, a man who in his own sport has equalled, and in some cases bettered, the achievements of all these great, great individuals: Step forward Stephen Hendry

Hendry is unrivalled in snooker terms, because he has been World Champion seven times. That is one hundred per cent, cast iron, set in stone, fact. His championship haul is without equal.

But, unlike in America where we often hear chest-beating calls of “I am the greatest” or “I am the fastest man in the world,” Stephen Hendry prefers to remain modest. Displaying a level of humility reserved only for Scots, he qualifies the true essence of greatness exclusively for In The Winning Zone, without lauding any praise on himself.

“Anyone can win once. Dozens have proved that. But to win over and over, like Schumacher or Woods, means you have attained a level of greatness. Not that I walk around saying I’m great or anything like that. But the results would back that up.”

However, the jury is currently out on Stephen Hendry. Some would say he is entitled to say he is great. Of course he is. He is the most successful snooker player of all time. No-one has achieved what he has.

Others, of course, would argue to the contrary. That he is a has-been, that he will never regain the form he once had and, by that logic, will never regain the trophy that once ground a groove on his mantelpiece, so long was it rested there.

Once again this year we saw the Championship pass him by. That it went to another Scot, John Higgins, is a comfort for the patriotic amongst us, but it doesn’t solve the enigma that is Hendry.

Of course, the question always asked is why he has struggled to rediscover the form that brought him his record seven world titles. Unfortunately, Stephen is as bemused as the rest of us.

“There are several reasons,” he speculates. “Maybe the desire and the hunger haven’t been there; maybe it’s better players; [maybe] old age? Having my cue broken? Who knows?”

His next point is the most poignant of all. “If I did know, I’d start winning again.”

It is a difficult question to answer, one which Hendry has no doubt asked himself many times. It is certainly true to say that he was severely affected when his cue was broken in a Thai Airways flight in 2003. He hasn’t won a ranking tournament in three years.
But, quite significantly, it may also be combination of the other factors. He is older, there are better, more dynamic players coming through, and they are arriving with a greater desire to win.

As you grow older, you may mature as a player and achieve greater focus, but the balls still need to be sunk. An old pro like Hendry knows this.

“90 per cent [of snooker] is [down to] ability. If you can’t pot balls, there is no point in learning to concentrate.”

Hendry went to the Crucible this year as the top ranked player in the world. So his early exit is not so much about him having off-days and losing his form as the fact that, quite simply, he may have lost his will, or confidence, to win. Following his exit to Ali Carter in the second round of this year’s Championships he told the Daily Mail: “I’m obviously lacking confidence….The UK Championship was my only decent run this season, but if you haven’t got that self-belief you’re going to struggle.”

But, regardless of his belief, he still has the motivation to win. Some athletes don’t achieve (either publicly or personally) true greatness until they make ‘a comeback’, such as Michael Jordan. Others, like Mike Tyson, can systematically ruin what was once great about their career by trying in vain to make comeback after comeback. Born on the harbours of South Queensferry, Hendry doesn’t think his ship has sailed quite yet.

“I don’t know how many years I have left at the top. I thought 35 was old and I’ve passed that. 40? That’s coming up soon, but ‘The Nugget’, Steve Davis, is still going strong at 57. So who knows? It is the only thing I don’t really know.”

He remains defiant, just as he did as a young upstart in 1990 when he beat Jimmy White 18-12. Hendry is a proven winner, ‘The Golden Boy’ of snooker. He may, or may not, rule the world again, and lift the prize that has felt his fingertips more than any other. But winners don’t give up, and Hendry, the ultimate winner, has no intention of doing so.

And, despite his current rut, he retains his sense of humour.

“What advice would you give to the younger players coming thorough, Stephen?” We ask.

“Take up golf,” is the reply. At least then we might have a chance of beating him…

In The Winning Zone May 07