Following a strong start, the Scot has failed to build on his early momentum. Pre-Christmas, he reached the semi-finals of both the Grand Prix and the UK Championship not to mention the finals of The Premier League and The Northern Ireland Trophy.

2006 though has so far been a big disappointment. He lost to Alan McManus at Wembley and John Higgins in Malta.

The quality of his snooker was so poor in the latter match that the normally explosive Hendry made a highest break of just 31.

Hendry then fell in the last 32 to Barry Hawkins at The Welsh Open.

The seven-times world champion did manage to exact a measure of revenge on Hawkins in China before being trounced 5-1 by Mark Williams in the quarters.

The 37-year-old has been tinkering with his cue action this year and on the face of it, this does not appear to be working.

However, despite not having triumphed in Sheffield since 1999 he saves his best snooker for April and it would be unwise to write the most successful player in history off just yet.

Arguably the performance of the year was by Hendry in his 5-1 defeat of Neil Robertson in Malta. John Higgins’ four consecutive centuries in The Grand Prix final obviously take some beating but his countryman’s breaks of 104, 142, 103 and 131 in the space of five frames were spellbinding and a reminder of what he is capable of.

With a very soft draw – Nigel Bond followed by, in all likelihood, Graeme Dott (who has never beaten him) – don’t be surprised to see the first 888.com championship bring about Stephen Hendry’s eighth world title.

Prediction: Hendry to reign once again.