Stephen Hendry has opened the door to the potential for a Crucible Theatre return by signing up for revamped World Seniors Championship in March.

The document seven-time world champion retired from skilled competitors 5 years in the past after a glittering and trophy-laden profession.

However Hendry, now 48, admits that watching a lot snooker from the studio and commentary field for tv has acquired his juices flowing once more.

And he will probably be one in all eight legends within the draw, alongside John Parrott, Cliff Thorburn, Dennis Taylor, Joe Johnson and Willie Thorne, for the event to be staged in Scunthorpe in March.

Crucially the winner, in addition to the £10,000 first prize, will routinely obtain a spot within the World Championship qualifiers – simply three victories from the Crucible.

And that golden ticket can also be being thrown open to any newbie over 40 paying £100 and enjoying off in heats for one in all 4 spots to hitch the legends.

Present tour members older than 40 had been prior to now controversially included within the Seniors, however professionals have now been kicked out.

Beginner winners of 4 regional qualifying occasions will go up towards the well-known names in what Hendry sees as a possible ‘Rocky’-style state of affairs.

And may they raise the trophy that will see them on the identical stage because the participant ranked No17 on this planet – three wins from the sport’s most well-known stage.

Hendry, who will even co-promote the occasion, mentioned: “The final yr or so I’ve missed enjoying snooker a bit extra – perhaps it’s all the TV work I’ve carried out making we wish to compete.

“I’ve no intention of coming again on the tour full time, however I wish to play extra.

“The Seniors has had a revamp and gone again to nostalgia, plus an opportunity for amateurs to have their day. Prior to now tour professionals aged 40 or extra had been allowed to play.

“You had individuals like Mark Williams who had been prime 16 gamers on tour, and it needs to be a singular occasion other than the tour.

“And perhaps that put among the former high-profile gamers off from getting into. I and John Parrot usually are not going to compete with prime tour execs.

“Folks get an opportunity to see gamers they keep in mind, fairly than the identical gamers they see each week.

“And the brand new format combines legends from the previous with a fantastic probability for amateurs over 40 to pay £100 to enter a qualifier, with the carrot for the Seniors winner of a spot within the World Championship.

“It is going to be critical as a result of we don’t like shedding, and essentially the most aggressive occasion I’ve performed in since 2013 and the Seniors in Portsmouth – so simply the second occasion since I retired.

“I’ve practised at Coulsdon with Jimmy White and Marco Fu and I will probably be again there within the subsequent week. I simply wish to play.

“The prospect for any newbie to pay their £100 and have the possibility to qualify and play us, and even win it and get within the Crucible qualifiers is superb.

“It may very well be a ticket to the World Championship – and virtually just like the Rocky story when Apollo Creed picked him as a result of he was from Philadelphia.

“Somebody might come out of the woodwork, win the qualifier to get to the Seniors, win this after which be in on the identical place because the world No17, needing to win three video games to be on the Crucible.

“What a narrative that will be. It’s a short-frame format, in order that they have an opportunity.”