Stephen Hendry did not enjoy one of the big finals of 2024 (Picture: Getty Images)
Stephen Hendry reckons the 2024 Players Championship final between Mark Allen and Zhang Anda was ‘probably the worst’ he’s ever seen.
The tournament in February in Telford was won by Allen, with the Northern Irishman battling to a 10-8 victory over Zhang in the final.
The Pistol admitted ‘it wasn’t a lot of fun’ despite picking up the trophy and the £125,000 top prize.
There was only one century in the match, made by Allen, while the winner made only one half-century in the other nine frames he won.
Zhang managed three fifty-plus breaks in a contest which saw more scrapping than scoring and it has not aged well in Hendry’s memory.
The seven-time world champion said on his Cue Tips channel: ‘I have to say, because I remember working on it for ITV, it was probably the worst final I’ve ever watched, against Zhang Anda, it was probably the worst final I’ve ever seen, it was horrendous.
‘But at the end of the day you win a trophy. I’ve played in some shocking matches and won, in my career. But that was a tough watch.’
Mark Allen and Zhang Anda contested the final in Telford (Picture: Getty Images)
Hendry felt Allen’s slower pace of play was partly the problem for the entertainment value at the Players Championship, but any champion is very difficult to argue with, especially one that won five ranking events from October 2022 – February ’24.
‘There’s not a player in the world who doesn’t benefit from picking up the pace a bit,’ said the Scot.
‘But I’m reluctant to criticise anyone too much that’s picking up the trophies he’s been picking up the last two or three years, you can’t say it’s wrong. But now I think he’s suffering a little bit from the way he’s played.’
Allen has won five ranking titles since the start of 2022 (Picture: Getty Images)
After beating Zhang to win the Players Championship, Allen said: ‘It was tough all day, I think I dragged Zhang down with me. My safety kept me in the match, but it wasn’t a lot of fun to be involved in.’
He hasn’t been back to a ranking final since that tournament in February, but did get back to winning ways at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship earlier this month.
The world number four said pace of play has been on his mind and he intends to pick it up in 2025 as he aims for a first world title at the Crucible.
‘I worked with Lee Walker at the UK Championship, I’m not sure yet where I will go with that. I am trying to play faster and enjoy it more,’ he said.
‘There was a time when I was winning matches and even winning tournaments but not enjoying the way I was playing and I knew something had to change. Partly the work with Lee and partly figuring it out for myself, as well as working with my psychologist, has helped me feel like everything is coming together.
‘Next year I want to keep winning and enjoying my snooker. There are big tournaments coming up, leading up to Sheffield. The world title is the one missing from my CV and that’s what I will keep working for.’