Scotland’s Stephen Hendry and John Higgins set for Crucible glory: 2012 World Snooker Championship
Final draws of the first round of the 2012 World Snooker Championship has been finalised and the potters are all set to take part in the mega event. Former World Snooker Champions from Scotland, Stephen Hendry and John Higgins have been handed tough draws
but still the veterans are ready to accept any challenge to fulfil their dream of clinching the World Championship.
The defending Champion, Higgins wanted to have Hendry as his opponent in the first round but it could not happen and the Chinese potter Liang Wenbo was selected to be his opponent in the opening round of the contest. Higgins was not up to the mark in the
recent season and felt that he has lost his form during his season campaign.
However, Higgins now believes that the Championship is a wake-up call for him and he will cash this opportunity to get back into the game. The Wizard of Wishaw was disappointed over his form in the recent season but he has practised a lot now and reckons
he is ready to defend his title. He will be opening the tournament playing in the first match against Wenbo.
Meanwhile, the Ice Man, Hendry played outstandingly against the Chinese potter, Yu Delu in the final qualifier of the tournament by the score line of 10-3 at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield. Hendry led the game in the first session by the score of
6-3. The second session was again dominated by the former Champ and he clinched four frames to hit the initial round.
Speaking to the local media, Hendry said, “It was a huge match and I had to go into it with the mindset of just trying to win, however I played. In fact I played very solid and won frames in one visit. Yu is a very capable player and I wasn't taking it for
granted.”
The Golden Brain added, “I'm used to being in the top 16 so it was tough to have to play an extra match to get there and I'm very pleased to get through. I have surprised myself in the qualifiers this season, I wasn't looking forward to it but I have won
most of my matches.”
Hendry will play his first game against the 2011 Australian Goldfields Open winner, England’s Stuart Bingham in the Last 32.
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