Chris Wakelin has hit back at criticism from seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry and vowed to be “at the front of queue” to congratulate Ronnie O’Sullivan if he eclipses their shared record at the Crucible this year.
Wakelin, a two-time ranking event winner and world quarter-finalist last year, completed a 10-6 first-round victory over Liam Pullen then expressed his frustration at Hendry, now a BBC pundit who also presents a weekly show on YouTube, whom he insists “doesn’t rate me at all”.
“Every single event, whenever I’m playing a match on TV, he always says the other guy is going to win,” Wakelin said. “I laugh about it every time and it gives me a lot of pleasure to go out there and do my thing.
“Even on his YouTube the other day, which I’m a big fan of and watch every week, he said that he fancied Liam Pullen to beat me, and in the next breath he said, ‘I’ve never seen him play before’. Whatever.”
Asked if he would be willing O’Sullivan on to clinch a stand-alone eighth Crucible crown, Wakelin quipped: “Oh yeah – just to see his (Hendry’s) face at the end. They’ll definitely stick him on commentary for the final session of the final.
“It will be a long time coming and it would be quite funny. I’d be at the front of the queue to congratulate Ronnie.”
Wakelin revealed he got his own back when he was drawn to play Hendry in the British Open qualifiers in 2021, early in the Scot’s abortive comeback at the age of 52.
“I thought, I’ll have a little dig,” the 34-year-old said. “So when they (the media) asked me, are you looking forward to playing a seven-time world champion and legend, I said I was a bit young to remember when he was at his best but my mum was a huge fan – and then he beat me!
“I’ve got a massive amount of respect for anyone who’s ever won a tournament in this game. Stephen being a seven-time world champion, I’ve got nothing but admiration for the guy. But he clearly doesn’t think I’m any good.”
Four-time winner Mark Selby made short work of 2024 finalist Jak Jones on Wednesday, posting three half-centuries as he eased into a 7-2 lead ahead of the evening’s scheduled conclusion.
PA
