"I am of course eager to win the China Open title, but the world top 32 players will be present and remaining 31 will not make my trip just to wish me happy", World No 1 snooker player Stephen Hendry said at last week's China Open title sponsor naming ceremony.

World top snooker player Stephen Hendry prepares a shot during a performance game in Kunming, Yunan Province ahead of China Open kicking off today.[sina.com]

The 36-old snooker king has miss twice the tournament champion, though, he makes his own expectation for the upcoming annual event, held from March 26 to April 1. "My first rival is Fu from Hong Kong who is the top ranking player; it won't be an easy task to scrabble for the qualification against him, but I will try."

Little tired, but zesty after trips of hours, Hendry without any warm-ups plays a shot in full swing at the following exhibition game that stir up fans at spot huzza, "I am already prepared for the tournament, "he said with confidence in the face of Chinese media.

"I undergo quite a tough training, and play warm-ups with Ronnie O'Sullivan twice before coming to Beijing", the shy snooker star said, "Everything runs well", and he still believed that he remains in good form as the world best snooker player, and be capable of fighting for the title, even with years of drought for the champion.

Although the world best players are present in China Open, the Chinese prodigy Ding Junhui will be the center of attention.

"If I am able to sort out an opponent of the final, I would prefer to O'Sullivan, since he is the world most excellent player; Ding, also a competitive player, but he is still young. There are a lot of chances for him and we", Hendry said of Chinese snooker sensation seriously.

The Chinese talented player reached the final of the Masters, the most prestigious event in the sports, but looked on in tears as O' Sullivan demolished him 10-3, which Chinese fans were so captivated by his emotional exit from Wembley, has Hendry ever being depressed by the missing of a career title?

"To be honest, I hate being defeated as my present status. While young, I have make again and again of successive success but now, I am easily feeling blue as long as I lost a match", Hendry said.

"It is definitely quite tough for Ding when he was defeated in front of audience of millions of people that bring about great pressures on the guy", the veteran commented of Ding's last exit.

"However, I believe that Ding is to be a world No.1 a day", he added, "but not now."