Stephen Hendry pulls out of UK Championship qualifiers

Stephen Hendry has withdrawn from the UK Championship qualifying rounds ahead of his scheduled clash with Andrew Pagett.

The seven-time World champion was due to face Pagett in round one at Ponds Forge in Sheffield on Saturday.

The Welshman subsequently receives a bye through to the second round, where he will play Xu Si the following day.

An invitational tour card holder, Hendry has played just two matches this season; Mark Joyce whitewashing him 5-0 at the German Masters qualifiers, while he was defeated 4-1 by Zhang Anda at the same stage of the British Open.

The Scotsman is a five-time UK Championship winner, lifting the trophy in 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995 and 1996.

Hendry is currently working as a pundit and commentator for ITV Sport at the Champion of Champions in Bolton, and explained:

Just a quick explanation as to why I had to pull out of UK qualifier.
They scheduled my matches for this weekend when I’m working at the COC for ITV.

— stephen hendry (@SHendry775) October 31, 2022

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