Stephen Hendry declines professional snooker tour card but Ken Doherty accepts

The seven-time World Champion initially retired from the sport in 2012 but made a shock return to the top tier during the 2020/21 term after receiving an invite from the World Snooker Tour.

Hendry’s comeback was never intended to be full-time and the Scot - who is now 55-years-old - only competed in a handful of professional events during his return. Last season (2023/24), Hendry featured in five tournaments, losing his opening match at each one.

Following the end of the campaign, Hendry’s tour card expired, and despite being offered back, he has decided not to accept the WST’s latest invitation. He will now continue to focus on his very successful and popular media projects, and ambassadorial duties.

The 36-time ranking event champion struggled and often cut a very frustrated figure during his return, although he did make a century break in his opening match back and collected a few wins early on. However, he had lost his last 14 matches and his last victory on the tour was back in September 2021.

As per the World Snooker Tour announcement earlier today, it is unclear whether Hendry has permanently retired from professional play again, although it appears very likely that is the case.

Elsewhere in the statement from the WST, it was declared that 1997 World Champion Ken Doherty has accepted an invitational tour card for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons.

The 54-year-old Irishman was not high enough in the rankings after the recent World Championship and his place on the premier scene was uncertain, but that has been cleared up today and Doherty is set for his 35th consecutive season amongst the world’s elite.

Last month, Doherty reached the final of the World Seniors Snooker Championship at the Crucible.