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Stephen Hendry threatens to storm out of studio over BBC accusation
Reach Daily Express | May 6, 2026 1:39 AM CST

Snooker legend Stephen Hendry jokingly threatened to storm out of a podcast while discussing Wu Yize's remarkable World Snooker Championship triumph. On Monday, 22-year-old Yize became the second-youngest world champion in history, behind only Hendry himself, who famously claimed the title aged 21 in 1990.

Speaking on the Snooker Club podcast, Hendry's co-host, comedian Mark Watson, praised Yize's fearless mindset and willingness to take risks. "He just seems to go for it, [TNT Sports pundit] Joe Johnson was saying that earlier. He has got this mentality that might cost you the frame but he is still going for it." Hendry, a regular on the BBC, then interrupted: "Sorry, Joe Johnson? Were you listening to the TNT coverage and not the BBC coverage?"

Watson reassured him: "No Stephen, I was interviewing Joe Johnson for this very podcast this morning... I would never dream of turning my back on the BBC."

"That's alright then," Hendry replied. "That would have been a bombshell there, I was going to storm out [chuckles]."

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Yize's title run was as dramatic as it was historic. He edged past Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a gripping final at the Crucible Theatre, denying Murphy a second world crown - and his first since 2005.

The young Chinese star also survived another thriller against Mark Allen in the semi-finals and overcame Hossein Vafaei and Mark Selby earlier in a memorable championship run. With the victory, Wu Yize became only the second player from China to lift the trophy, following in the footsteps of Zhao Xintong, who won it last year.

World no. 1 Xintong was eliminated in the quarter-finals this time, edged out 13-10 by Shaun Murphy. He and Yize remain two of just six world champions from outside the British Isles - and the only winners from Asia - in the tournament's illustrious century-long history.

Yize's fearless, attacking style has quickly set him apart from many of his contemporaries, drawing admiration from pundits and former champions alike. His willingness to take on high-risk shots under pressure has been a defining feature of his breakthrough run in Sheffield.

"There seems to be a consensus that Yize is liberated by not worrying too much," Watson said. "If he misses it, he misses it. But he'll just go for everything.

"He perhaps doesn't have enough battle scars yet, from losing matches," Hendry added. "He's obviously 22, he's been a pro since he was 16, so he's got that confidence of youth and just going for it and not thinking of what might happen if he misses - and that's brilliant. But that doesn't last forever."


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