THE LAST time Stephen Hendry lost at the Crucible in snooker's World Championship - 13-11 to Steve James in the 1991 quarter final - he had dominated the season, winning seven titles. He has done as well again, avoiding the mid season slump characteristic of the last few years.
In the current campaign, he has won five titles and helped Scotland win the World Cup, but in losing 9-2 to Mark Williams in the British Open final at Plymouth a fortnight ago, he showed unmistakable signs of burn out. "I should feel gutted but I don't," he said. "There was nothing left in the tank."
Always resolute in adversity on major occasions, he has become much more stubborn about losing on those which are not, particularly when he has not been in prime form. He has won more matches than ever in second gear this season, but at the cost of draining his reserves.
He is already certain to retain top position in the world rankings for an eighth consecutive season - beating Steve Davis's record of seven - and in each of those years he has won more than £400,000. But his chances of winning his sixth world title in succession, and seventh in all, must depend on how completely he has managed to refresh his mind.
His draw is the toughest possible. Andy Hicks, the world number 18, who was a world semi finalist two years ago, is certainly no gentle first day pipe opener. In the last 16, he will probably face Williams, winner of three world ranking titles and the circuit's most improved player this season.
Hendry's prospective quarter final opponent is Ronnie O'Sullivan, a 21 year old virtuoso who can outplay anybody but can also be his own worst enemy. He has won two titles this season and had an irresistible six frame winning streak from 2-8 to 8-8 in the Liverpool Victoria final in January before Hendry took the decider with a 147.
If O'Sullivan is again inspired by playing the champion, this could be the match of the championship. "I don't think Stephen's ever faced that level, of opposition early on," said Peter Ebdon, who was exhausted by three epics before opposing him in last year's final.
Hendry's semi final would be no pus hover, particularly if he's been taken to two or three close finishes, against either John Parrott or Nigel Bond. So the question would then arise of how much mental stamina he had left for the finishing straight of this 17 day marathon of the mind.
From the bottom half, the likeliest finalists are Ebdon, who has won two titles this season, John Higgins and Steve Davis, who have one each.
None, frankly, has looked a potential world champion this season but by gathering momentum in the next two weeks, perhaps one of them might by the time the best of 35 frames final starts on May 4th.
