'My game isn’t ready': Stephen Hendry doesn’t expect to reach World Snooker Championship this year

Stephen Hendry has dismissed his chances of returning to the Crucible (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

Stephen Hendry has dismissed his chances of returning to the Crucible this year despite sinking old foe Jimmy White to reach the second round of the World Championship qualifying tournament on Monday.

The 52-year-old will resume his unlikely quest against China’s Xu Si on Wednesday night, with three further hurdles to overcome if he is to book his place back at the scene of his record seven titles.