Stephen Hendry has revealed the strict regime he faced in his prime, including being forbidden to see his then-girlfriend, during his time as a world-beating champion. The seven-time champ, known for his rigorous competitive spirit and now offering expertise as a pundit, shared insights into his early career hardships.

Now 59, rewrote history by becoming the youngest ever winner at the Crucible back in 1990, a record which remains unchallenged. His snooker reign included a streak of five consecutive after 1992, setting a high bar before players like took centre stage.

Hendry credits – and also critiques – his first manager Ian Doyle, who took him on at just 16 years old for many of his highs. Doyle was famously tough on young Hendry and even prohibited visits to his girlfriend, who became his wife later on. Speaking with , he said: "I often got the hairdryer treatment in the dressing rooms.

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"He'd come in and say, 'You're f***ing useless, you've not practised this week, you're lazy'. In the early days, when I was dating my ex-wife, she lived down south and he said things like, 'You think you're going to see her next month? No you're not'.

"It was pretty full on. We followed the same mould as and [his manager] . I didn't socialise with other players. I was there to win."

Hendry began dating Amanda Tart at the tender age of 16, despite his then-manager Doyle's concerns that she might distract him from his snooker career. The couple tied the knot in 1995 after Hendry clinched his fifth world title and went on to have two children before their split in 2014.

Amanda was left reeling when she discovered Hendry had fallen for a woman 19 years his junior, reports . In his 2018 autobiography, he recounts the heart-wrenching moment he broke the news to Amanda about the end of their marriage.

He wrote: "Driving back from a shopping trip, my wife Mandy asks me what's wrong. She assumes it's money-related. I tell her it isn't.

"Then she tells me to stop the car, saying that we're not going an inch further until I tell her what's going on. So I do.

"I tell her that I have feelings for someone else. She is shocked and devastated."

Hendry's new chapter began with actress and performer Lauren Thundrow, who was 26 to his 45 when they met. They've now been an item for 11 years, having first crossed paths at a snooker event.

Recounting their relationship in his memoir, Hendry said: "I first met Lauren when she was selling merchandise after a Legends snooker exhibition. She's attractive and we smile at each other, but I think nothing of it.

"Gradually, we start to say, 'Hi', and share a bit of small talk. I would never be one to go striding over to any woman who caught my eye – after all, I'm the person who got to know my wife's parents before I plucked up the courage to talk to her.

"As time goes on, we chat more often. It's becoming clear we have a connection."