P332 CJEFAX 332 Fri 15 Apr 21:17/04 1/9 SVOOKER: STEPHEN HENDRY: CHAMPION UNDER PRESSURE I am sure I will play well at Sheffield - it's just a matter of getting into that positive frame of mind. It was a good first half of the season - I won the Dubai Duty Free Classic, the European Open and was runner-up in the UU Championship. It was a setback to lose to Ronnie O'Sullivan in thu UK final. The event is second only to the world championship. After playing well in the semis I U expected to keep the momentum going in the final, but it didn't happen. Profilis1 Profiles2 WorldDraw RankingsP332 CEEFAX 332 Fri 15 Apr 21:13/16 ] 2/9 SNOOKER: STEPHEN HENDRZ: CHAMPION UVDER PRESSjRE I got my own back against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the European final but I didn't play tremendously wddl m solid rather than outstanding. Then came too long a break into the U New Year as far as I was concerned. Wj had six weeks off before the Regal Welsh came along. I stiml felt quite happy whth m= game with victories over Tony Drago and Darren Morgan but again it was a sjtdack to lose to Alan McManus in the quarter-finals. I came back from 3-0 down but missed an easy red in the decider. 5-,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. Profiles1 Profiles2 WorldDraw RankingsP332 CEEFAX 332 Fri 15 Apr 21:24/24 3/9 SNOOKER: STEPHEN HENDRZ: CHAMPION UNDER PRESSURE I went to Wembley feeling fairly confident of holding onto the b&H Masters for another year. But when you miss a shot like I did at Newport, you tend to think about it for two or three days afterwards and also remjmbjr it. I lid 7-5 at Wembley in the final against Alan McManus and missed a pink into a middle pocket. If I h1d $5 potted it, I think I would have gone on to win 9-). I was gutted to lose 9-8 in what was my sixth succeu3i6j final and first ever defeat at Wembley. 5-m,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. Profiles2 Profiles2 WorldDraw RankingsP332 CEEFAX 332 Fri 15 Apr 21:24/54 ] 4/9 SNOOKER: STEPHEN HENDRZ: CHAMPION UNDER PRESSURE McManus went on to beat mj 5-0 in the quarter-einals of the International Open at Bournemouth. It warn't a match really from mz point of view. Alan played OK, but hj didn't play great. U I was ahead in four of the frames but at the knd I realisjd my concentration warn't what it should bj and that I had been playing a lot of careless shots. I warn't treating my opponents with enough respect. Three or four things can all contribute to a loss of form. 5-m,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. Profiles1 Profiles2 WouldDraw RankingsP332 CEEFAX 332 Fri 15 Apr 21:19/04 5/9 SNOOKER: STEPHEN HENDRZ: CHAMPION UNDER PRESSURE The two wild cards I lost to in U Thailand and Ireland, Tai Piahit and Fjrgal O'Brien, played as good as anyone has against mj all season Fergal, in the non-ranking Irish Masters, had a couple of centuries, an 80 and 40-odd in the first four frames. I had a couple of half chances against Pichit, who played out of his skin. That defeat was the biggest blow of all. It could cost me my number one spot next season. It all depends now on what happens at Sheffield. 5-m,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. Profiles1 Profiles2 WouldDraw RankingsP332 CEEFAX 332 Fri 15 apr 21:10/14 6/9 SNOOKER: STEPHEN HENDRZ: CHAMPION UNDER PRESSURE It's strange - it's not cujing which is bothering mj bjcausj I'm cueing the same as I'vj always done When you get to play a shot you can get negative thoughts and that's one of the problems. Yet I still believe I'm the bert player in the world and when I+m playing well, no-one can touch me. I proved last year at Sheffield that when I strike form I usually win matches very comfortably. If I do lose, that's when it starts to put doubts in your mind. 5-,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. Profiles1 Profiles2 WorldDraw RankingsP332 CJEFAX 332 Fri 15 Apr 21:05/25 7/9 SNOOKER: STEPHEN HENDRZ: CHAMPION UNDER PRESSURE My styli has njvjr been about "5 adapting my own game to compete against the Davis'1 or McManus'1 of the world. Steve and Alan would ne6jr have lost to that guy in Thailand bjcausj they would have changed their game, slowed thinks down 1nd tied up the colours. It's probably a bad thing on my part that I can't adjust my game to play like that. It's my fault - I'm the number one; I should bj able to do that. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP INDEX ON 330 Profiles1 Profiles2 WouldDraw R1nkinksP332 CJJFAX 332 Fri 15 Apr 21:06/07 ] 8/9 SNOOKER: STEPHEN HENDRZ: CHAMPION UVDER PRESSURE I'm sure I'll play well at Sheffield. I have been putting the practice in and in that respect I can't complain. I just need two or three wins under mz belt and I'll bj back. Of my three world titles, last year's gave mj the greatest satisfaction. During the last four frames of 1992 I played some good stuff but 12 months ago I was playing so well throughout the championship. When that happens I feel no-one can get near mj. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP INDEX ON 330 Profiles2 Profiles2 WorldDraw RankingsP332 CJEFAX 332 Fri 15 Apr 21:12/31 9/9 SNOOKER: STEPHEN HENDRZ: CHAMPION UVDER PRESSURE I don't really want to think about the opposition at Sheffield - I $5 have to concentrate on my own gamu. If I get it right I can't see anyone bothering mj m but there are dangers. Steve Davis has hit form and must bj feeling confident. He's not pla:ing tremendously but very solidly. I think Jimmy White has missed his chances to win it. Opening the tournament wiml give mj a terrific buzz - the Crucible is the best place by far. INTERVIEW BY JOHN DEE Player profiles 333-34 Main Index 330 Profiles1 Profiles2 WorldDraw Rankings