Stephen Hendry unsure about future for British snooker prospects after Mark Allen’s World Championship agony - 'Are they special?'
Published 06/07/2026 at 16:16 GMT+1
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Stephen Hendry has revealed that Mark Allen has become a famous figure in China for the missed black that cost him a spot in the World Snooker Championship final in May. The Northern Irishman was on the brink of a 17-15 win over Wu Yize, but somehow jawed a black off the spot.
'Could not write a script like this' - Allen misses match-ball black and Wu pots it to stay alive
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Allen is adamant the pain of the astonishing missed black in Sheffield will not deter his long-term ambition to join Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins and Dennis Taylor as only his country's third Crucible king.
Hendry feels the Antrim man can still become a world champion despite the growing threat from China, who have produced the last two Crucible winners in Zhao Xintong and Wu, who progressed to edge out Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a thriller.
"Mark Allen is obviously another possible first-time world champion," said Hendry on his YouTube channel.
"Got very, very close this year. Obviously, missed that black.
"I was in China recently, and there's just social media everywhere of him missing that black.
"I think he's going to become more famous for that than anything else he's done, [but] he definitely can win a world title."
Hendry has tipped Halifax teenager Stan Moody as a potential world champion, but believes the future of the sport is going to be dominated by emerging talents from the Far East.
Moody led 2024 world champion Kyren Wilson 7-3 on his Crucible debut in April before shipping the final seven frames in a 10-7 first-round defeat.
Despite his potting promise, Hendry is unsure if 19-year-old Moody will prove to be similar to darts prodigy Luke Littler, or snooker GOAT Ronnie O'Sullivan, in almost transcending their respective games.
Hendry was on the receiving end of O'Sullivan's enduring quality when the Essex player became the youngest winner of a ranking event with a 10-6 victory over his fellow seven-time world champion in the 1993 UK final.
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"There's a lot of good players out there," said Hendry. "But are they special? Are they, as I mentioned, a Luke Littler?
"Are they a Ronnie O'Sullivan? Have I seen anyone yet that I think they're going to win four, five, six world titles? No, I haven't seen anyone yet.
"If I look at Wu Yize, Zhao Xintong or Chang Bingyu, who's not at their level yet in terms of winning tournaments, but has incredible talent.
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"I'd be shocked if these guys didn't share in the next 10, 15 years, you know, a dozen world titles between them.
"They're that good. And that's what I look for."
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