Elliot Slessor blasts Stephen Hendry’s commentary on his ...

Elliot Slessor blasts Stephen Hendry’s commentary on his UK Championship win

Phil Haigh Published December 3, 2025 11:17am Updated December 3, 2025 11:18am Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments Cazoo Masters - Day Eight

Stephen Hendry’s commentary did not please Elliot Slessor (Picture: Getty Images)

Elliot Slessor picked up his first win in the main stages of the UK Championship but was not happy with how Stephen Hendry described it to the world.

Slessor beat Kyren Wilson 6-4 on Tuesday evening at the Barbican, reaching the last 16 of the tournament for the first time.

It is another fine result in a good season for the 31-year-old, who reached the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters and the quarters at the English Open as he continues his hunt for a first ranking title.

The game was not a classic, with both players admitting they struggled with difficult conditions in York, but Slessor clearly handled the situation the better of the two.

The world number 21 has clearly watched the game back since Tuesday night and is not thrilled with how Hendry described it on the BBC.

Replying to posts on X about Hendry’s commentary on his match, Slessor wrote: ‘Clearly does his research 😂😂😂 never gave me a licking of a dog all night. I’ve had more comments about him than my game.

‘Conditions were brutal, he took none of that into accord and hammered me. Anyways best of luck to him, unless you’ve won a World [Championship] or [you’re] a Chinese player he has no clue who you are.’

Elliot Slessor is into the last 16 at the Barbican for the first time (Picture: Getty Images)

Hendry did admit before the game that he has not watched a great deal of Slessor in the past.

Asked by John Parrott if he had seen much of the five-time ranking semi-finalist, Hendry said: ‘I actually haven’t. I have to admit. But I hear a lot of good things.’

Slessor will re-focus his attention on the table as he takes on Barry Hawkins in the last 16 on Thursday night, admitting that his win over Wilson was not a thing of beauty, but did display admirable fight in difficult circumstances.

‘Delighted to win. It was a struggle, just hard work, just battled and stuck in there, but delighted to win,’ Slessor told TNT Sports. ‘I came to win and I won, so can’t grumble.

Slessor is at a career high of number 21 in the world (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I think I’ve lost about 43 deciders here, so I thought I was due one. It’s great to win. It’s a little bit soul-destroying when you don’t perform the way you want, but as I say, I came to win and I won, so I can’t grumble.’

Slessor has been working with coach Chris Henry for two years now and credits him for helping him scrap through testing matches.

‘It has made a massive difference, more in hanging in games,’ he said. ‘I’m one of them, I like to play good snooker and if I don’t play good snooker I get the raving hump with myself.

‘I’m still annoyed with myself with not performing the way I want, but I’m more capable of hanging in instead of turning the tools in like I used to. I’ll stick in there a bit more.’

Hawkins downed David Lilley 6-4 on Tuesday night, also finding conditions a struggle, telling the BBC: ‘It’s had a lot of play since Saturday and when the cloth wears the pockets become nippier. They were tight today.

‘There was a few balls that should have gone in, I thought. I’m just pleased to still be in the tournament.’

UK Championship last 16

Wednesday December 13

1pm

Mark Williams vs Pang Junxu

Wu Yize vs Neil Robertson

7pm

Judd Trump vs Si Jiahui

Mark Selby vs Zhou Yuelong

Thursday December 14

1pm

Ding Junhui vs Scott Donaldson

Zhang Anda vs Zhao Xintong

7pm

Elliot Slessor vs Barry Hawkins

John Higgins vs Shaun Murphy

Arrow MORE: Mark Selby speaks out on a snooker future without Ronnie O’Sullivan

Arrow MORE: Kyren Wilson overcomes cue nightmare and you can have his old one

Arrow MORE: Ronnie O’Sullivan suggests reason for ‘ropy’ UK Championship defeat

Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source Football Newsletter – In The Mixer

Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro's football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.

Team Expand Options ? Select All Select All Arsenal Arsenal Aston Villa Aston Villa Bournemouth Bournemouth Brighton Brighton Burnley Burnley Chelsea Chelsea Crystal Palace Crystal Palace Everton Everton Fulham Fulham Leeds United Leeds United Liverpool Liverpool Manchester City Manchester City Manchester United Manchester United Newcastle Newcastle Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest Sunderland Sunderland Tottenham Tottenham West Ham West Ham Wolves Wolves Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign Up

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy