In a riveting development within the world of Snooker, Scottish snooker legend Stephen Hendry has revealed the harrowing truth behind his retirement from the game. Known for his dominance on the tables in the 1990s with an impressive seven World Championship wins, Hendry’s career came to an unexpected halt due to a debilitating wrist condition known as the ‘yips’.
Fans were left in awe of Hendry’s aggressive gameplay, which saw him share a record with Ronnie O’Sullivan. However, his form began to wane after securing his last world title in 1999, leading to his initial retirement in 2012 at the age of 43. Frustrated with his declining performance, Hendry attempted a comeback in 2020 but ultimately made the difficult decision to decline a two-year tour card in the summer of 2024.
Reflecting on his decision, Hendry candidly admitted, “Let’s be honest, I wasn’t pulling up any trees, was I? I know the game inside out, I still know all the shots, but unfortunately the body is not performing like my brain wants it to.”
The revelation of the ‘yips’ as the primary reason for his retirement sheds light on the challenges faced by professional athletes in precision sports. Hendry lamented, “If I didn’t have the yips and I could play, I would still play. I can’t go through the ball properly and I can’t wait at the back. There are certain shots I know I can’t pot and they can be the easiest pots in the world or easy positional shots. I hate it. I don’t know where it came from. Some people don’t see it but it’s horrible and that’s why I retired.”
The ‘yips’, characterized by involuntary wrist spasms, are commonly associated with golfers during their putts but can also affect players in sports like snooker, cricket, darts, and baseball. Steve Davis, another snooker champion, revealed that he too struggled with the ‘yips’ throughout his career, emphasizing the difficulty of managing this condition.
Recent research from the Mayo Clinic suggests that the ‘yips’ may be linked to a neurological condition called focal dystonia, challenging the previous belief that the condition was solely based on performance anxiety.
As the snooker world grapples with the revelation of Hendry’s retirement due to the ‘yips’, it serves as a stark reminder of the physical and mental toll that professional athletes endure in pursuit of excellence. With insights from legends like Hendry and Davis, the snooker community continues to confront the complexities of competitive sports and the impact of conditions like the ‘yips’.
This gripping tale of triumph and adversity in the world of snooker originally appeared on the Daily Record, underscoring the enduring legacy of players like Stephen Hendry and the challenges they face both on and off the table.
