Snooker legend Stephen Hendry made light of his absence from the BBC's coverage of the Welsh Open with podcast co-host Mark Watson.

Hendry, who began commentating for the broadcaster in 2013 after retiring from the sport, wasn't present in the punditry team for the tournament, which saw Mark Selby defeat Stephen Maguire 9-6 in the final.

The Scotsman discussed his non-involvement on the Snooker Club podcast with Watson. "I don't do the BBC's Welsh Open, I don't know why I don't get the call," the 56-year-old said, via the Express. His co-host left him laughing as he replied: "Your demands are enormous, you don't just go to North Wales for anyone."

Currently, Hendry is in Shanghai, China covering the Weide Cup World Open, which was set to host Ronnie O'Sullivan versus Stuart Carrington in a first-round match on Sunday. However, 'the Rocket' withdrew from the event due to health reasons.

He hasn't participated in a ranking event since November's UK Championship, having pulled out of the Masters, German Masters, Welsh Open, and now the World Open. Prior to the 49-year-old's decision to withdraw, Hendry speculated that he would return to action due to his fondness for playing in the Asian nation.
Stephen Hendry believed Ronnie O'Sullivan would compete in China prior to his withdrawal (
Image:
Getty Images)

"Obviously he does like playing in China and obviously he's loved over there, and Hong Kong... I'd be shocked if he didn't play," he said. "But I don't know. I don't know what to think about what's going on really. Obviously smashing the cue [at the Championship League] has had an effect, but when he's working at your sporting events, I hear he's still on the practice table, still playing."

Hendry hinted that O'Sullivan might be focusing solely on the World Championship in April, given his noticeable absences, and acknowledged that tournaments feel the impact of his non-participation. "Part of me thinks, 'Is he just going to play in the World Championship? Is that the goal now?'

"'Is that the game for the season, the plan?' I don't know, but there's no doubt if he's not in an event, the event suffers a little. There's no doubt about it. The event is slightly affected by him not being in it."