Seven-time world snooker champion Stephen Hendry has visited the island to take part in a charity event which raises cash to fight cancer.

Hendry, aged 48, is an ambassador for Poker Stars who were the main sponsors of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK charity golf day held at Mount Murray Golf Club.

Afterwards, the Scot, who was the youngest-ever professional snooker player at age 16 and the youngest world champion at 20, spoke to the Examiner.

How did you become involved with Poker Stars?

’I was invited to play in their poker festival in London in January so I enjoyed that and developed a relationship with them and was honoured they asked me to be an ambassador.

’I was in Marbella last week for another festival and then here for the golf day, so I’ve been enjoying your lovely weather. I’ve pulled a muscle or something in my side and thought it’d be OK but it wasn’t so I just drove around in the buggy seeing everyone.’

How often do you play snooker these days?

’During the height of my career I was playing, four, five, six hours a day, sometimes seven days a week but at least five days, so basically it was a job.

’Now I play exhibitions, I don’t practise anymore. I might on the odd day go to a club for a couple of hours and play if I fancy it, but I don’t play much.’

Did any players inspire you as a youngster?

’When I first started at 13/14 and I was watching snooker on TV, Jimmy White would have been one of my favourites to watch, just the shots he played were different to everyone, the style, the speed. Then when I became serious and turned professional at 16, Steve Davis was the one I sort of modelled my career on as he was the dominant player.

’I wanted to be a winner like him and although Jimmy played the great snooker, he wasn’t a serial winner like Steve.’

Would you have any advice for young players?

All sports are tough, especially individual sports like snooker. It’s hard giving advice. Obviously practice is very important. If you have that natural talent it’s obviously important as well. It’s a combination between talent and hard work. Having the bottle to play under pressure. If you don’t have even one of those ingredients you’re going to struggle.

What was it like when you first played at the Crucible?

’I loved it. The year before I turned professional I went just to visit it. I thought this is where I want to play snooker.’

How would you feel about the world championship moving from the Crucible?

’It needs to stay there. If it ever moved away it just wouldn’t be the world championship for me.’

Would you consider becoming a coach?

’No, nobody could afford me!’

Do you play much poker?

I used to play a lot when it first became big in the early 2000s. I used to play a lot online and at snooker tournaments with the players at night.

’Then I stopped for a while because I was losing money. I realised I wasn’t very good and was sick of handing money over.

’But I always loved it and playing at casinos, then the opportunity to came to become involved with Poker Stars so that was perfect for me. To do something that was a hobby and go to different places and play it.’

Do you have a most memorable match?

’Obviously your first world championship win is special. To achieve that the first time was amazing and to still be the youngest winner.

’But there have been so many matches in my career it’s very difficult to pick out any single match.’

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