Stephen Hendry is still enjoying his role as an ambassador for Chinese eight-ball pool, one that is certainly seeing him clock up the air miles with the regular travel from Scotland to the Far East over the past 18 months. “I think I have been to around 40 Chinese cities already,” said the seven-time world champion at the Masters. “And I am taking Chinese lessons now, although I’m not exactly fluent yet.” It is thought there are around 129 cities in China with a population as big or bigger than Birmingham, so the 45-year-old still has some way to go in his quest to promote that sport.