He set a professional snooker record by scoring 556 unanswered points in a 6-0 quarter-final victory over Ricky Walden in 58 minutes and went on to reach his 10th final in the event - breaking Hendry's previous best of nine. Unlike White or even Davis, he did not play for the pure love of snooker but because of an obsession with being the best. Eight months on from cementing his status as a sporting superstar for life with his five minute and eight second maximum at the Crucible, O'Sullivan picked up his second UK crown after claiming a 9-6 victory over Hendry in the final, ending the Scotsman's three-year grip on the trophy in the process. There, the Rocket punished Mark Selby 10-4 but the Jester would of course get his revenge in the World Championship final later that season. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Hendry holds the record for the most seasons as the no.1 player; he was ranked no.1 for nine seasons. In 2006, however, he demonstrated that he still possessed the talent that made him such a force in the 1990s when he claimed the number one ranking once again. Stephen Hendry holds the record for the youngest ever to win the World Snooker Championship, as he won the 1990 tournament at 21 years and 106 days. His seventh and final World Snooker Championship title in 1999 set a record for most of all time -a record which he held solely until Ronnie O'Sullivan tied the record with his 2022 championship win. O'Sullivan returned to the sport just in time for the Masters after a near eight-month hiatus in which he decided to defend his UK Championship title in December 2015. He remains the only player to have compiled a 147 break during the one-table stage of the semi-finals of the World Championship (1995). While many had given the enigmatic Rocket GOAT status on talent grounds long before hed surpassed Stephen Hendrys records for most ranking titles (36) and Triple Crowns (18) due to the countless moments of unfathomable genius and blockbusting entertainment hed treated us to since bursting onto the scene in 1993, the statistics have now landed the knockout blow. When the 96/97 season began, there were nine Scots ranked inside the top 64 and plenty more coming up on the rails. Following the 1996 world championship, Hendrys play slipped. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. Growing up, he also spent time living in Edinburgh and Fife. But it was a strange feeling I had. Davis was the best player of his generation but still played the percentages. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. Ronnie O'Sullivan's 18-13 win over Judd Trump at the Crucible Theatre in the World Snooker Championship final in 2022 earned him the biggest prize in the sport for a record-equalling seventh time. Now in the world's top 16 for the first time, Ronnie O'Sullivan booked his place in the Masters tournament automatically, having made his debut the previous year after coming through the qualifying event ranked 57 in the world. He has played a partial schedule in 2021 and 2022, never making it past the second round of a tournament. The circuit currently boasts only eight Scottish professionals. History repeated itself three years on from his maiden world title in the sense he'd suffered a first-round exit 12 months earlier, this time against Marco Fu despite firing in a 147 break. Ronnie OSullivan is the greatest snooker player of all time. Discovery company. All 12 of the Crucible 147 breaks in multiscreen ranked by speed.Ronnie O'Sullivan's unbreakable record is only challenged by his second maximum while @nr147 is the new entry at number eight. Eight years on from his initial retirement from the professional sport at the age of 43 at the end of the 2011/12 season . By the end of the Millennium, the legendary Scotsman had completed his haul of 18 Triple Crowns, which were all compiled since 1989 and included five UK Championships and six Masters crowns, while hed only win a further four ranking titles so hes had over 20 years of watching his milestones being eroded away. Tai Chengzhe/Visual China Group via Getty Images. "You could still have business interests and still play, but he's chosen not to. 'He could pot everyone off the table' - Trump on Hendry in his prime, 'Hendry is right on Jimmy' - O'Sullivan agrees White should relax with snooker. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. O'Sullivan's longevity at the top is almost as remarkable as his breathtaking standard of play and his mind-boggling collection of records, titles and century milestones. At 20, he captured the Masters and UK Championship, and at 21 was crowned the youngest ever world champion. Photo: AP While Hendry is happy with his progress, he insisted that this was . On that occasion he was thrashed 5-1 by Dennis Taylor in the wildcard round but this was a completely different story, overcoming John Parrott, Terry Griffiths and Peter Ebdon prior to a 9-3 triumph over fellow teenage sensation John Higgins. "Its just a number at the end of the day, I dont get too caught up with it to be honest with you.". O'Sullivan's fifth UK Championship is another iconic moment in his career after he followed up the 13th 147 maximum break of his career against Matthew Selt in the last 16 before edging out rising star Judd Trump 10-9 in a truly gripping final that he'd led 9-4. What TV channel is 2022 World Snooker Championship final? O'Sullivan has achieved perfection in snooker but Hendry still stands In 1984, at age 15, Hendry became the youngest Scottish amateur snooker champion in history. The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has announced his retirement from snooker after a heavy 13-2 defeat by Stephen Maguire at the Crucible. In 25 years time, maybe that record will fall too. Ronnie O'Sullivan 775th Century with superb fluke! O'Sullivan stands on 69 wins from 92 matches played between 1993 and 2021. Four months later he'd bring a packed house to their feet yet again with his third maximum break of the season and his third at the Crucible. In recognition of his excellence in the sport, Hendry was knighted, receiving a MBE recognition in 1994. Ronnie O'Sullivan's career statistics and records as he equals Stephen He won 12 frames in a row against the Scotsman, who was beaten with a session to spare, and didn't give Ali Carter much of a look in either, triumphing 18-8. WPBSA Head Office: World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, 75 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2NT, Victories in Sheffield for Hendry and Wallace, White and Doherty to Meet in World Seniors Final. Stephen Gordon Hendry was born on January 13, 1969, in South Queensferry, Scotland. As if to underline how disappointing the comeback has been, the man himself did not enter the event. Top 5 Ranked Men's Snooker Players Of All Time. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stephen-Hendry, Electric Scotland - Biography of Stephen Hendry. **Hendry resumed playing in 2021 after nine years out, but his future on the tour is unclear. SUBSCRIBE for the biggest and best videos from the only official World Snooker channel on YouTubeWebsite: www.wst.tvTwitter: @WeAreWSTFacebook: /WorldSnooker. "I would say no, because there are so many great players competing against each other to win every tournament," he told BBC Sport. He wont even be there to present the trophy. Welcome to my brand new YouTube channel, Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips. Having enlisted the help of six-time world champion Ray Reardon to rediscover his magic, he battled past Stephen Maguire (10-6) and Andy Hicks (13-11) before imperiously wiping the floor with Anthony Hamilton (13-3) and Stephen Hendry (17-4) with sessions to spare, while his 18-8 hammering of Graeme Dott was pretty brutal too as he returned to the top of the world rankings, where he'd stay for the next two seasons. After witnessing Ronnie O'Sullivan finally tie his longstanding record of seven World Snooker Championship titles, Stephen Hendry said he was "surprised it's taken him so long." The seemingly. We look back at his 28. In 2020, Hendry was offered an invitational wildcard by World Snooker Tour, making him eligible to compete again on the circuit. Tuesday 03 May 2022 09:19. As a seven-time World Champion, Hendry is the most successful player in the modern era of the World Snooker Championship and holds the record for the most seasons as world number one. Ronnie O'Sullivan's sixth World Championship broke Stephen Hendry's record for the most career ranking titles and also extended his all-time Triple Crown tally to 20. There's obviously a lot more to consider than just stone cold statistics and tallies when debating greatest players of all time, but there can be no doubt the genius manner in which O'Sullivan's numbers escalated - not to mention the entertainment factor away from the baize - has helped him transcend his sport and popular culture like no other. After the 1999 world championship, Hendrys fortunes faded once more. Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies, Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. He became the first player to score the maximum of 147 three times in tournament play, recording his first 147 in 1992 and two more in 1995 (he scored additional maximums in 1997 and 1998, two in 1999, and others in 2001 and 2009). Discovery company. The Rocket had earlier joked with BBC's presenter Hazel Irvine during the trophy ceremony that Hendry can share the record with him for another year. Stephen Hendry has been one of the most successful snooker players in recent history and is widely regarded as one of the best to ever play the game.Tied with Ronnie OSullivan at seven titles apiece, no one has won more World Snooker Championships in the modern era than Hendry.Keep reading to find out all about his background and career, as well as what the snooker superstar is up to today. Stephen Hendry's Crucible record unbeatable - Davis - BBC Sport Turning professional at 17, Hendry made a strong start in his first season, winning the 1986 Scottish Professional Championship. The record was previously set by Stephen Hendry back in 1999. "John Higgins is on four, it's very hard to see anyone reaching seven," said Davis, a six-time world champion. Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is Joe Davis, who won 15 consecutive titles from 1927 to 1946. His all-time leading tally of 20 Triple Crowns, which also consists of seven UK Championships and seven Masters, is now two more than what Hendry achieved in his legendary career, although the Scotsman condensed his 18 (7 worlds, 5 UKs & 6 Masters) into a formidable 10-year spell from 1989 to 1999. Is Stephen Hendry the Greatest Snooker Ever? Bio & Ranking - Players Bio Ronnie O'Sullivan's legendary status reached yet another level when breaking the ranking title record of 36 that he'd previously shared with Stephen Hendry by landing the biggest of the lot for the sixth time. He has played only a handful of events and found victories hard to come by. At age 30 (seven years younger than Reardon was when he won the first of his six world titles) Hendry considered retirement, but he persevered, working with former coach Frank Callan. He had never intended to be like his old rival Jimmy White and enter every event. "I will try to keep expectations lowthe animal that I am, if I start to get form, then the expectations will rise. Last week, he was thrashed 5-0 by Matthew Stevens in the German Masters qualifiers. "Jimmy White would probably feel that even though he's not at the cutting edge any more, he's enjoyed the challenge of trying to stay within the game, and I've enjoyed the same challenge, but obviously Stephen didn't. It was the biggest margin of victory in the tournament's final since Steve Davis whitewashed Mike Hallett 9-0 in 1988. Its now undisputed, if it wasnt already. The 1989-90 season was the beginning of Stephen Hendrys period of dominance, both in major tournaments and atop the world rankings. Stephen Hendry with wife Mandy and son Blaine after beating Mark Williams 18-11 to win a record seventh world title. His 16 centuries in the 2002 world championship also set a record. What Is The Prize of The World Snooker Championship? Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? That's what a champion does, they don't play their best, they get to the final, and they still nearly win it. These days, he is playing not just against the new players but his own past, judged by the performances of his pomp and suffering in comparison. Stephen Hendry with his now girlfriend of four years Lauren Thundow The couple first launched a bid to build more homes on the site in 2008 and later won planning permission. Wishaws John Higgins was taken with one of his brothers to a snooker club as a boy by their father, who could have a social drink with his friends while his sons were happily occupied. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2010 World Open - Mark King, 11. The winner of this weeks Scottish Open receives the Stephen Hendry trophy. As the Scottish Open begins in Edinburgh, its worth remembering that this had not always been the case. Ronnie O'Sullivan's 18-13 win over Judd Trump at the Crucible Theatre in the World Snooker Championship final in 2022 earned him the biggest prize in the sport for a record-equalling seventh time. Stephen Hendry: Key records Ranking title wins: 36 World titles: 7 UK titles: 5 Masters titles: 6 Crucible match wins: 70 Crucible win percentage: 77.78% Career win percentage: 68.54%. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2000 Scottish Open v Quinten Hann, 5. BBC pundit and 1985 world champion Dennis Taylor believes Hendry's achievements mark him out as the stand-out player in the sport's history. Higgins, 47, continues to have a successful career at the top level with 31 ranking event victories to his name, including four world titles. Twelve months earlier, the Rocket hit the headlines for the wrong reasons at the Barbican when forfeiting his quarter-final against Stephen Hendry when trailing 4-1 in the first to nine frames. Ronnie O'Sullivan's sixth World Championship breaks the ranking title Stephen Hendry retires after World Snooker Championship defeat At 20, he captured the Masters and UK Championship, and at 21 was crowned the youngest ever world champion. Steve Davis says he cannot imagine anyone bettering Stephen Hendry's tally of seven World Championship titles. I wouldn't say it's the wrong decision - it's just down to the individual.". However, given the varying format changes in the tournament's early life, most records in the sport are now taken from the period beginning 1969, when the knockout format at the world championship was reintroduced. However, this latest unforgettable run at an empty Crucible began with an astonishing 10-1 triumph over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in just 108 minutes - the quickest best-of-19 frame match ever by 41 minutes - but he had to battle much harder to see off Ding Junhui and Mark Williams 13-10. In 2020, Hendry accepted a tour card for the World Snooker Tour, indicating his return to professional play. His youth made him a relatable figure to youngsters everywhere, but especially in Scotland. Hendry was full-on attack, casting safety aside and always looking to open the balls and kill frames off in one visit. "I can't really envisage it happening, there's just going to be more and more players knocking each other out.". All rights reserved. I just try to enjoy the game, compete, try and enjoy what I do, and work hard at my game. All rights reserved. Hendry was 30 and the extraordinary intensity he had given to be the best seemed to wane. Stephen Maguire became UK champion in 2004 and currently has six ranking titles to his name. Just 16 when he joined the circuit, he was completely driven from the start. While his comments about needing to lose one arm to drop out of the world's top 50 were still going viral, it looked as though he'd bow out when supposedly playing recklessly against Mark Selby in the semi-final. "Obviously a name for the future. Mark Allen, Mark Selby and John Higgins had all thwarted his attempts to lift the Crucible trophy for a fourth time as he failed to get past the quarter-final in any of the previous three seasons. "It was a mixture of embarrassment, anger, frustration, sadness, everything," Stephen Hendry says as he remembers how his dominance of snooker unravelled into, in his mind . The prodigious talent underlined his rich potential in emphatic fashion at just his second UK Championship by beating Ken Doherty, Steve Davis and Darren Morgan before defeating Stephen Hendry, who'd already won three world titles, two UK crowns and five successive Masters by this time, 106 in the final. After three semi-final defeats in the 1990s and a shock 10-9 defeat to David Gray in round one of the Millennium edition, O'Sullivan reached his first Crucible final by overcoming Andy Hicks (10-2), Dave Harold (13-6), Peter Ebdon (13-6) and Joe Swail (17-11) before an absorbing 18-14 victory over 1998 champion John Higgins. Stephen Hendry's Record Breaking Century | 1994 UK Championship Final Stephen Hendry | Sport | The Guardian Tai Chengzhe/Visual China Group via Getty Images. Hed sacrificed much to get to the top and had no regrets. 1995: Beats Nigel Bond in the World Championship final. MORE:Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Stephen Hendry has admitted he did not want Ronnie OSullivan to equal his haul of seven World Championship titles, and does not want him to surpass their now joint-record. Never, ever a dull moment watching Ronnie.pic.twitter.com/wIryNNsPha, Trying to get Ronnie O'Sullivan enthused about the excitement and romance of his own storylines is a tough gig. However, he began competing again in 2021. The Rocket not only equalled Steve Davis' record of six UK titles by defeating Shaun Murphy 10-5 but he also moved level with Stephen Hendry on 18 Triple Crown triumphs. . To be the best was all he had ever wanted. OSullivan has already ticked off the other major records Hendry held including most Triple Crown wins and most ranking tournament titles. Stephen Hendry | Biography, Comeback, & Facts | Britannica Ronnie O'Sullivan on whether he's just created the greatest sporting documentary of all time after giving it the fairytale ending. Why Do Snooker Players Use Their Chins When Shooting. I'm enjoying the process.". Stephen Hendry bestrode the sport in the 90s in an almost imperious way. Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. Indeed OSullivans time span of winning major titles which now stands at 29 years is testament to the astounding longevity of his greatness compared to anyone whos ever picked up a cue, Hendry included. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is. It was one of six tons he managed in the final - another record - and his victory at the age of 37 meant he was the oldest player since Ray Reardon in 1978 to become world champion. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2001 LG Cup - Drew Hendry, 6. 'It's just a number': Ronnie O'Sullivan plays down record-equalling Maybe not that night, because there's still a little bit of sadness that he equalled my record. O'Sullivan set to pass another Hendry record Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? Hendry, O He also had lost in the final in 1997, snapping a string of 30 straight wins in that event. Ronnie O'Sullivan reacts to equalling 'absolute legend' Stephen Hendry He turned professional the following year, and when he won the Grand Prix in 1987, he became the youngest player to win a tournament. Ronnie O'Sullivan (1992-) 6x Worlds, 7x UK champ, 7x Masters, 37 ranking titles, 1061 centuries, 15 147s Stephen Hendry (1985-2012) 7x Worlds, 5x UK champ, 6x Masters, 36 ranking titles, 775 centuries, 11 147s Who is the GOAT? RT for Ronnie Like for Hendry pic.twitter.com/S4MiKoDhHG. 1 ranking for a period in 2005. The 43-year-old, who . Hendry jokes with ref, The seven-time world champion accepted a two-year wild card from former World Snooker Tour chairman Barry Hearn at the outset of the 2020/21 season and played his first match since the 2012 World Championship when he lost 4-1 to. The 53-year-old Scotsman won 70 matches from 90 played at the Crucible between 1986 and 2012 when he appeared 27 times and lifted the world trophy on seven occasions in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999. O'Sullivan set up another instalment of his budding rivalry with Mark Selby after beating Joe Perry (6-5), Ali Carter (6-2) and Stephen Maguire (6-1) and he'd edge another titanic tussle between the pair 10-8 to claim his fourth Masters title. Although he remained a fixture in the sports top 10 rankings, he was unable to equal the heights he had reached in the previous decade. O'Sullivan has always played down his pursuit of the record and maintained that stance in his post-match press conference. This maximum in an exhibition against Reanne Evans last year is also well worth a watch. He admired and coveted Daviss success and adopted his mindset. Despite eventually signing the official WPBSA players' contract after initially refusing to do so, O'Sullivan decided to miss virtually the entire 2012-13 season but thankfully announced at the end of February that he would return at the Crucible. Considering all categories of tournament, including ranking, non-ranking and invitational, Steve Davis has won the most titles in snooker. I didnt want Ronnie to equal my record and I dont want him to beat my record, why would I? Hendry said on the WST Podcast. 'It makes me so angry!' We look back at his 28 years of astonishing milestones, achievements statistics, maximum breaks, and fan-pleasing antics. Tied at 42 pints apiece, Sinclair hit the deck and Werbeniuk went to the bar for a celebratory beer. But despite trailing 16-14, he brilliantly won three frames on the trot to complete a remarkable day of semi-final snooker before wiping the floor with Kyren Wilson 18-8 in front of the returning, adoring, Crucible crowd. O'Sullivan came into the Masters on the back of losing the UK Championship final to Mark Selby but bounced back with wins over Liang Wenbo (6-5), Neil Robertson (6-3) and Marco Fu (6-4) before successfully defending his crown with a 10-7 triumph over Joe Perry. Corrections? Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1999 Grand Prix v Graeme Dott, 4. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2003 World Championship - Marco Fu, 7. The Romford potter has amassed 52 more Crucible centuries (179 vs 127) to take his astonishing overall career tally to 1,061 compared to Scotsman's mark of 775 - which is second on the all-time list - while 15 of those were maximums. pic.twitter.com/K1gRIJLnz9, Mark Selby thought Ronnie O'Sullivan's cavalier approach to getting out of his snookers was disrespectful. Article bookmarked. Snooker player Stephen Hendry's professional Match results, Frame scores, centuries, prize money, statistics from season 2022-2023 . Enjoy. Ronnie O'Sullivan records 776th century to break Stephen Hendry's record. However, one big difference was how he approached the game itself. Hendry had not even played the game before his parents bought him a half-sized table for Christmas in 1981. McManus would win the Masters itself in 1994. Mon Oct 15 2018 - 13:17. After winning his first World Championship in 1990, he became the youngest player ever to lift the title at 21. Hendry, who turned pro in 1985 aged 16, twice managed to win all three prestigious tournaments in one season (1989-90 & 95-96) - a feat O'Sullivan has never achieved - but only managed four more ranking triumphs this Millennium until he retired at the age of 43 following his 27th consecutive World Championship in 2012. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1999 Welsh Open v James Wattana, 3. He said: "I think it meant more to him than it does to me, to have seven world titles. He hadn't been at his fluent best earlier in the tournament but managed three century breaks and 10 above 50 when the trophy was on the line. Stephen Hendry - Wikipedia Some were more successful than others but they became regular faces on the circuit. Stephen Hendry - WPBSA Despite what he says about his cue action. Even before his victory, O'Sullivan was already considered by many to be the greatest player of all time not least because of the number of ranking titles he has collected during his storied 30-year career. He was that dominant. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 2005: Wins his 36th and most recent ranking title at the Malta Cup. This is generally known as the start of the 'modern era'.