Hendry declines two-year tour card from World Snooker

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has declined a two-year invitational paper from World Snooker.

The Scotsman retired from nan athletics successful 2012 but reversed that determination to return successful 2020.

Hendry accepted two-year invitational cards successful 2020 and 2022 but World Snooker said "he is incapable to perpetrate to nan circuit owed to different priorities".

The 55-year-old has won 36 ranking titles, including winning his past grounds 7 world titles betwixt 1990 and 1999 - a number since matched by Ronnie O'Sullivan.

The Scot past featured connected 25 January erstwhile he mislaid against compatriot Ross Muir during qualifying for nan Welsh Open.

Hendry told nan Daily Record: "Let's beryllium honest, I wasn't pulling up immoderate trees, was I?

"I was a small spot amazed pinch really bully nan modular was, but I've conscionable sewage truthful galore different activity commitments, I won't beryllium capable to dedicate capable clip to practising.

"I cognize nan crippled wrong out, I still cognize each nan shots, but unluckily nan assemblage is not performing for illustration my encephalon wants it to."

Ireland's Ken Doherty has accepted a two-year invitational card, which will widen his stint connected nan circuit to 36 years.

The 54-year-old, who won nan world title successful 1997, made his debut connected nan circuit successful 1990 and would person mislaid his paper this twelvemonth owed to his performances.