As the snooker world focuses on the thrilling climax of The Masters this Sunday, the off-table drama of one of the tournament's greatest ever champions has come back into the spotlight. Stephen Hendry, who won the prestigious event six times, once faced a personal crisis that resulted in a colossal financial and emotional cost.
The End of a Marriage and a Hefty Price Tag
Hendry, now 57, was married to Mandy for nearly two decades before their relationship broke down over a decade ago. The snooker icon subsequently began a relationship with Lauren Thundow, a children's performer and actress who is 20 years his junior.
In his 2018 autobiography 'Me and the Table', Hendry revealed the steep financial consequences of the split. He described the three-year divorce process as the most stressful of his life and disclosed that the legal bills alone amounted to a hefty six-figure sum. As part of the settlement, his ex-wife Mandy remained in the family home in Scotland with their two sons.
A Painful Confession and Family Fallout
Hendry recounted the moment he confessed his feelings for someone else to his wife. During a car journey, Mandy pressed him to explain his distant behaviour, initially assuming it was money-related. Hendry revealed the truth, leaving her shocked and devastated.
"It's the last thing she expected me to say," Hendry wrote. The couple attempted a reconciliation, with Hendry moving out temporarily, but the pull of his new relationship proved too strong. A family holiday to Portugal in 2013 was a final attempt to save the marriage, but they ultimately decided to separate.
The hardest task, Hendry admitted, was telling their sons, Blaine and Carter. "I try to be as gentle as possible, telling them I have feelings for someone else. But however you try to explain things to children, there is going to be upset and hurt," he said. He described feeling like "the worst person in the world."
Life After the Split
Hendry first met Lauren Thundow when she was selling merchandise at a Legends snooker exhibition. What began as friendly small talk evolved over months into a deeper connection. "After a while we realise we're falling in love. That's very unsettling. I am married to the woman I've been with for almost 30 years," Hendry explained.
Nearly 12 years on, Hendry and Thundow are still together. While no longer competing at the top level, Hendry remains a prominent figure in snooker. His YouTube channel, 'Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips', has amassed close to half a million subscribers, and he also works as a pundit.
His record at The Masters, where he won five consecutive titles from 1989 to 1993 and another in 1996, remains a towering achievement in the sport's history. This weekend's final, with a £350,000 prize at stake, is a reminder of the arena where Hendry built his legendary status, far from the personal turmoil that unfolded years later.
