'It was the worst I've seen' – Carter and Hendry agree in brutal Crucible debate

Stephen Hendry and Ali Carter have discussed a lack of quality at the World Championship in April and May, sharing their thoughts on the performance levels at the 48th staging of the tournament in Sheffield.

Carter saw his hopes ended in the first round by a 10-7 loss to former UK champion Stephen Maguire, with former world champions Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, Luca Brecel, Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams and Higgins all eliminated before the one-table semi-final stage.

“Kyren did brilliant to win the World Championship. I’m not taking anything away from him because Kyren is a lovely lad, but he’s played only one top-16 player in John Higgins,” said world No. 10 Carter, who lost the world final twice to O’Sullivan, an 18-8 defeat to his Essex rival in 2008, and an 18-11 loss in 2012.

Carter continued: “You can only play what you are up against, and he took advantage. He won, and that’s all there is to it.

“When you look at myself, I’ve arguably played the best player of all time twice, and then if you look at Kyren..brilliant, but he’s playing someone ranked 45 in the world.

“You are trying to turn over a multiple, multiple winner. But he’s reaping the rewards now, and good luck to him.”

Scotsman Hendry – who shares the Crucible record with O’Sullivan on seven world titles apiece – wondered if tighter pockets contributed to only 63 century breaks, the lowest since 2013 when only 55 were produced.

“Were the pockets tight? If the pockets are tighter surely the best players should come through?” said Hendry on his YouTube channel. “As you say, one top-16 player. I have to say, it was the worst I’ve seen in terms of standard for a long, long time.

“Centuries were way down. In terms of the standard of play, it’s the worst I’ve seen. As a pundit, you’ve got to say it as you see it, haven’t you?

“But when someone wins the world title, you can’t take anything away from them. And I would never dream of doing that.

“It’s not Kyren’s fault everybody got beat, but it was a different World Championship.”