Stephen Hendry

Did I have a mis-spent youth? I suppose I did in that I left school early without any qualifications, having bunked off a few times for tournaments.

The memories for the missed opportunities are stronger than for the ones I managed to get over the line in.

In all the years I've been playing, I've never considered changing my cue. It was the first cue I ever bought, aged 13, picked from a cabinet in a Dunfermline snooker centre just because I liked the Rex Williams signature on it. I saved £40 to buy it. It's a cheap bit of wood, and it's been the butt of other players' jokes for ages."

I could have had eight or nine world titles at least, and you do think about that at times.

I never dreamed, when I received a small table for a Christmas present from my parents, I would have the career that I did or achieve so much.

The worst loss in my career - the 2002 World Championship final against Peter Ebdon.

I remember far more shots that cost me matches than the ones that won me matches. That is maybe the way you think if you are someone who has won a lot of tournaments and had a successful career.

I can't overstate the part the yips played in bringing my career to a close.

Financially speaking, I haven't ended my career in the best shape, and there are debts, as well as what is to come by way of a divorce settlement to Mandy.

For me, winning was 'job done.' I would practise the day after.

In the late '80s and early '90s, I took success for granted, winning four or five tournaments a year. I just expected to win them.

Judd Trump's bedrock of his game is potting good long pots, getting in, creating a chance, and winning frames at one visit.