The Crucible is calling Stephen Hendry after being awarded a two year Invitational Tour Card

The legendary seven-time World Champion is returning to the professional circuit after an eight-year hiatus.  

Hendry had appeared to have ended his career, when he announced his retirement following the 2012 World Championship.

Stephen Hendry had never lost the passion for the game and was still very much embedded in the sport by featuring as a commentator for the BBC & ITV networks during all the major tournaments. 

Stephen Hendry says that the ultimate target for his sensational return to the World Snooker Tour is to once again compete at the Crucible Theatre in the final stages of the Betfred World Championship as he feels now is the perfect time to get back to the Snooker table .

Hendry is one of the most successful players in the history of snooker, he has won the sport’s most prestigious tournament, the World Snooker Championships a record seven times in the modern era and holds the record for most seasons as World Number One . 

His first world title at the age of 21 in 1990, made him the youngest ever World Champion which is a record that Hendry still holds.

Stephen Hendry  has also won Six Master Titles (including five consecutively), and five UK Championships Titles .

His total of 18  Triple Crown Tournament wins is surpassed only by Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 20.

Stephen Hendry is one of only three players to have won all three Triple Crown events in a single season, Hendry is the only player to have achieved the feat twice, in the 1989 /90 and 1995 /96 seasons.

Hendry is known throughout his career as a prolific break builder, he recorded a total of 775 career Century Breaks, and made 11 officially recognised maximum breaks in professional competitions.

So the Crucible is going to see some interesting play this season .