HENDRY SLAMS NEW RANKING SYSTEM

Stephen Hendry has criticised the new ranking system, which sees the list revised four times a year rather than at the end of the season.

The seedings for the UK Championship and Wembley Masters will be determined after the second European Players Tour Championship event in Bruges in October.

Hendry is currently 11th in the official rankings but is going through a poor run of form and is sweating on his place in the elite group.

He told 110sport.tv, the website of his management group: "A number of top 16 players are looking over their shoulders and it is worrying that a bad patch could have major consequences.

“I am not moaning because I am down there just now – I just don’t think its right that it isn’t based over a whole season and a lot of players have worked very hard to get into the top 16 in the first place.

"Over the season each of these players will hit a run of form but if they have a bad patch at the start of the season they could be in trouble.

“Another bad run and I could find myself missing out on the Masters at Wembley. It is a very punishing system.”

Indeed it is. It has already cost Liang Wenbo his top 16 place after just a few months - or rather he has, by not winning enough matches.

The idea of the new list is to reward success and no longer protect players who can't win a match.

Many players love it because it gives them the chance to scale the heights but others, like Hendry, are worried because it puts extra pressure on them at a time they are struggling for form.

There are arguments on both sides but I think it's better that a player who wins a tournament receives an immediate benefit from that success.

There have been top 16 players in the past who haven't won a match all season but have still been seeded through to the Crucible while ranking tournament winners have had to qualify.

Top 16 players have also kept their places by winning no more than a handful of matches all year.

Hendry, of course, is more entitled than most to express a view on this but it is surely a reflection on his own current plight.

When he was the undisputed king of snooker, I doubt he could have cared less what the ranking system was.

He would have been at the top regardless.

case_master wrote:He will see in the long term its good for the game. I would imagine he had a perception on how he would exit the game and the new ranking system might make that difficult for him.
Also I would like to see the full copy of his comments rather than what 110 printed

case_master wrote:I very much question this article.

Just how well has his management explained the system to him? As Witz pointed out its still based over two years but Stephen is under the impression is 1. Also he seems to have been told he could miss out on the Masters this year....look at the current rankings, this is extremely unlikely.

I think Thompson Lykes is spot on

GJtheaussiestud wrote:is it possible he was misquoted by the media

surely not

Lucky balls wrote:Hendry will feel a little peeved, all his career he's seen the old system 'protect' the falling stars a little for a season or two at least. He starts probably the first real bad run of his career and the safety net is pulled away.........bit of a bummer really

A number of top 16 players are looking over their shoulders and it is worrying that a bad patch could have major consequences.



“I am not moaning because I am down there just now – I just don’t think its right that it isn’t based over a whole season and a lot of players have worked very hard to get into the top 16 in the first place. Over the season each of these players will hit a run of form but if they have a bad patch at the start of the season they could be in trouble.



“Another bad run and I could find myself missing out on The Masters at Wembley it is a very punishing system.”

lifted from 110sport and not snooker scene blog wrote:“I am not moaning because I am down there just now – I just don’t think its right that it isn’t based over a whole season and a lot of players have worked very hard to get into the top 16 in the first place. Over the season each of these players will hit a run of form but if they have a bad patch at the start of the season they could be in trouble.

HulkHogan wrote:Tried replying to Dave Hendon's blog but wasn't approved so might as well try put across a case on here.

Firstly I conducted the interview and wrote the article and the quotes ARE correct - however if you have seen the full interview and Stephen's comments on the ranking system he is hardly 'slamming' the system and he talks about his need to win matches to ensure his place.

I do wonder how many people have read the headline on Snooker Scene Blog and then seen the name 110sport then just jumped to their own conclusions.

HulkHogan wrote:Tried replying to Dave Hendon's blog but wasn't approved so might as well try put across a case on here.

Firstly I conducted the interview and wrote the article and the quotes ARE correct - however if you have seen the full interview and Stephen's comments on the ranking system he is hardly 'slamming' the system and he talks about his need to win matches to ensure his place.

I do wonder how many people have read the headline on Snooker Scene Blog and then seen the name 110sport then just jumped to their own conclusions.

HulkHogan wrote:I can't speak for everyone but I don't think it is the case that there is a major problem with the ranking system.

The Mark Allen story the other week highlighted the fact he had to qualify for a ranking event which he felt was a bit of a kick in the teeth and then there's this story where I've simply asked Stephen if he is worried about losing his place amongst the 16 and he's given his thoughts on it.

HulkHogan wrote:I can't speak for everyone but I don't think it is the case that there is a major problem with the ranking system.

The Mark Allen story the other week highlighted the fact he had to qualify for a ranking event which he felt was a bit of a kick in the teeth and then there's this story where I've simply asked Stephen if he is worried about losing his place amongst the 16 and he's given his thoughts on it.

HulkHogan wrote:I can't speak for everyone but I don't think it is the case that there is a major problem with the ranking system.

A number of snooker heroes are languishing at the bottom of the 2010-11 snooker rankings.



World No.1 John Higgins has dropped to No.96 in the rankings – following his suspension earlier this year he has still to gain his first points.



The updated rankings also show seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry and China’s Ding Junhui joint eighty-fifth while Mark Davis is currently ranked in first place with a narrow lead over Barry Pinches who is second.



Changes to the ranking system mean that many top 16 players are now at risk of losing their place amongst snooker's elite despite the fact the first ranking event of the season is still over a week away.

Thompson Lykes wrote:Typical 110 sports.

Even when they admit to something they still hide. Eh Hulk