Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has retired from snooker after being knocked out of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

The 43-year-old legend was beaten 13-2 last night by Stephen Maguire in the quarter-finals at The Crucible.

After the match he decided to call it a day after 27 years as a professional during which time has amassed 36 ranking titles, 11 maximum 147 breaks and 775 century breaks.

Easy decision

Hendry admitted it was an “easy decision” to retire - twelve months after he dropped out of the world top 16 for the first time in his career.

"I made the decision about three months ago.

“I didn't tell many people, but this is me finished from tournament snooker,” he said.

“There's a few reasons - the schedule, the fact I'm not playing the snooker I want to play, and the fact I'm not enjoying practice.”

Hendry rolled back the years on the opening day of the 2012 Championship when he hit a 147 break in his 10-4 win over Stuart Bingham.

Defeat

He then hammered out-of-sorts reigning champion John Higgins 13-4 to reach the last eight for the first time in three years.

But his tilt for an eighth world title, and his glittering career, was brought to an abrupt end when he was beaten by Maguire inside two sessions.

Hendry was just 17 years old when he qualified for his first World Championship in 1986.

Just four years later he became the youngest ever world champion, beating Jimmy White 18-12 in the final.

Domination

Hendry dominated snooker in the early nineties - winning five consecutive world titles between 1992 and 1996.

He won his final world title in 1999, beating Mark Williams 18-11.

The King of the Crucible also won the Masters six times, has five UK Championship titles and four Grand Prix wins to his name.

Hendry is now expected to concentrate on exhibitions in China as well as media work, having already become a well-respected commentator and pundit in recent years.

Fellow legend of the game Jimmy White tweeted: “He was and is an unbelievable snooker player and has nothing to prove I hope he enjoys his retirement he really deserves it.

“I thank him sincerely for some of the best matches and memories of my own career I'm not sure his records will ever be equalled.”

Jan Verhaas, who refereed his win over John Higgins tweeted: “Crucible backstage in shock!

“Thanks for the memories pal! You will be missed. #legend #tearsinmyeyes”