WHICH WORLD CHAMPIONS WILL WE SEE AT PONDS FORGE?

There is plenty of intrigue over which of the former world champions no longer on the tour will take advantage of Barry Hearn’s offer and assume their place in qualifying for this year’s World Championship at the Crucible.

Joe Johnson was cagey on the question on the eve of the German Masters, but we here at Inside Snooker are still putting him down as a probable, along with Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor. For the last two mentioned that would have extra poignancy (and hopefully column inches) given it is the 30th anniversary of their epic final battle.

Cliff Thorburn remains a possibility, John Parrott an outside chance and Terry Griffiths a likely non-starter.

Much of the focus will be on Stephen Hendry’s intentions, but the Scot, a record seven-time winner in Sheffield, continues to tease the snooker public – dropping the odd hint that he misses the competition, but also insisting that he has nothing to prove and will not be making a comeback as a mere PR stunt and prelude to a big and embarrassing defeat.

There is also some speculation that contractual issues with his current paymasters at a rival Chinese table manufacturer might make it difficult to play in a Star tables tournament, but presumably even if true those could be negotiated if the will was there.

COMMENTATORS RENEW GOLF RIVALRY

With no play on the Monday morning of week two at the Dafabet World Championship a number of the BBC commentary team, aided and abetted by professional Matt Selt and assistant tournament director Martin Clark, took advantage of the fine weather and headed for the golf course.

The pairings for the latest leg of the matchplay challenge series were John Virgo and Clark v Willie Thorne and Dennis Taylor, and Selt and Stephen Hendry – fortified by the purchase of some new clubs in Sheffield - v John Parrott and Ken Doherty.

The auspicious occasion took place at Rotherham Golf Club, a fine parkland course of 6,327 yards with a par of 70. No one challenged the course record of 62 – but there were wins for the impressive Taylor and Thorne by 2 and 1, and Hendry and Selt by 4 and 3.

WILL HENDRY FOLLOW DAVIS ONTO REALITY TV?

Is the great Stephen Hendry about to follow Steve Davis down the reality TV route? The Nugget was a big hit on ITV’s Australian jungle show ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’ last year, pocketing a reported £240,000. Hendry said at the time he might answer the phone for a cool half a million, but Inside Snooker reckon a lot less would be required to snag the Scot, who has clearly opened the door to the idea. It is rumoured that Hendry’s recent move onto Twitter was suggested by a publicity agent to increase his profile. Judging by his picture output on the microblogging site, Hendry is something of a gourmet. We are going 3-1 he crops up on Celebrity Masterchef some day soon.

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.