Please subscribe as we've got loads of amazing snooker content coming up over the next few months. He capped off his incredible season by defeating Jimmy White in the final of the World Snooker Championship, winning his first world championship title,and setting a record for becoming the youngest to do so at the age of 21. pic.twitter.com/kkjnHt983m. 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. Nobody could stop him this time as he downed former champions Peter Ebdon (10-4), Mark Williams (13-6) and Neil Robertson (13-10) before waltzing past Matthew Stevens (17-10) in the semi-finals and Ali Carter 18-11 for the title. Way back in 1993 at the age of 17 he became the youngest winner of a ranking event at the UK Championship, and 27 years on he's bagged a record-breaking 37th as the oldest Crucible champion since Reardon in 1978. Hendry changed the way snooker was played, ushering in a more attacking era and. "Hendry: "Well he can't become the youngest world champion"Davis: "But he is playing like Benjamin Button." Hendry was 30 and the extraordinary intensity he had given to be the best seemed to wane. At 19 years and 69 days, O'Sullivan became the youngest Masters champion and that record stands today. believes Hendry's achievements mark him out as the stand-out player in the sport's history. Despite what he says about his cue action. He retired as a player following a 13-2 loss to fellow Scot, He last played a competitive match on the main tour in November, losing 6-1 to. #snooker #bbcsnooker pic.twitter.com/dgKOL1QXhs, Ronnie O'Sullivan doing this to trail Mark Selby 16-14 in a World Championship semi-final but still ends up winning 17-16 in a match of the ages. Read about our approach to external linking. It was the eighth maximum of his career and he followed it up by thrashing Stephen Maguire 10-2 for his fourth UK title. 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. 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. Ronnie OSullivan registered the 1000th century break of his extraordinary career to win the final of the 2019 Players Championship. We look back at his 28. And just as the 2017 sequel to Trainspotting doesnt alter the majesty of the original, Hendrys stuttering comeback doesnt change any of that. In 25 years time, maybe that record will fall too. Stephen Hendry: "Are you saying another record of mine is going? The deadline to enter the sport's blue-chip event was Monday at lunchtime, but the Scotsman has opted against playing as he continues his work as a TV pundit away from the table with the 46th World Championship at the Crucible staged between 16 April-2 May LIVE on Eurosport. However, when pressed for a more serious answer he replied: "I've never bothered about records, I've never performed well if I'm going for stuff like that. Final report: Ronnie O'Sullivan 18-8 Kyren Wilson, CLICK HERE FOR EVERY 147 BREAK IN SNOOKER HISTORY, WATCH ALL THE CRUCIBLE MAXIMUM BREAKS IN HISTOR, Richard Mann's story of the snooker season, Sporting Life exclusive: Neil Robertson interview, Nick Metcalfe on a decade of World Championship finals, World Championship memories: White always a People's Champion, World Championship memories: O'Sullivan's finest hour, World Championship memories: Higgins prevails but Trump grows, World Championship memories: Joe Johnson: The biggest shock, World Championship memories: 1984 World Championship stands out, World Championship: 6 (2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020), UK Championship: 7* (1993, 1997, 2001, 2007, 2014, 2017, 2018), Masters: 7* (1995, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017), Century breaks: 1,061* (179 at Crucible*). MORE:Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Hendry holds the record for the most seasons as the no.1 player; he was ranked no.1 for nine seasons. In terms of weeks spent as world number one, as of April 18, 2022, Stephen Hendry tops the list. He might not have been the last snooker king of Scotland but was the man who inspired a nation, and who brought it respect. Walter Donaldson became the world champion in the post-war era, but for a long time, Scotland lagged behind the other UK nations. By now, those he had inspired had become good in their own right, and so a decline began which ended in his retirement in 2012 at the age of 43. He has the record for most century breaks during a tournament, scoring 16 centuries during the 2002 World Snooker Championship. After losing to Stephen Maguire in the quarterfinal of the 2012 World Snooker Championship, Hendry announced his retirement, stating that he was dissatisfied with his ability to maintain an acceptably high level of competition. Can't stop smiling watching this againpic.twitter.com/vPxSMZhCEo, 1000 x ! Ronnie O'Sullivan's legendary career reaches a new unprecedented milestone, making his 1000th century - 27 years after his first - to win his 35th ranking title! What. He said: "I think it meant more to him than it does to me, to have seven world titles. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Graeme Dott, raised on the Easterhouse estate in Glasgow often associated with social decay, demonstrated his iron toughness by becoming world champion in 2006. Last week, he was thrashed 5-0 by Matthew Stevens in the German Masters qualifiers. All rights reserved. His swashbuckling professional career spanning 28 glorious years has taken snooker fans to mesmerising heights and even at the age of 44, his continued brilliance and popularity across all generations is keeping him very much at the forefront of the sport. **Hendry resumed playing in 2021 after nine years out, but his future on the tour is unclear. Stephen Hendry bestrode the sport in the 90s in an almost imperious way. 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. Eight years on from his initial retirement from the professional sport at the age of 43 at the end of the 2011/12 season . However, he began competing again in 2021. 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. This maximum in an exhibition against Reanne Evans last year is also well worth a watch. 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. 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. Earlier breaks of 116 and 105 had moved OSullivan onto 999 and any speculation that he would wait for the World Championship to reach a thousand was ended with a sumptuous 134. He competed in the World Amateur Championship that year, setting a record for being the youngest entrant ever.. 20 Scots have so far competed in the Crucible stage of the World Championship. Mon Oct 15 2018 - 13:17. Its now undisputed, if it wasnt already. The winning moment The post-match interview The trophy lift Ronnie O'Sullivan is world champion for a sixth time pic.twitter.com/JfO90m22ak, Ronnie O'Sullivan wasn't mincing his words tonight! 'The players coming through are so bad I'd probably have to lose an arm and a leg to fall out of the top 50. The 43-year-old, who . We look back at his 28 years of astonishing milestones, achievements statistics, maximum breaks, and fan-pleasing antics. In recognition of his excellence in the sport, Hendry was knighted, receiving a MBE recognition in 1994. 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. Tuesday 03 May 2022 09:19. He was employed on a lucrative contract promoting cue sports in China and enjoyed punditry and leisure time spent playing golf, but nothing can compare with the thrill of competition. Hendrys father bought him a junior-sized snooker table for Christmas when he was twelve.He became obsessed with the game, quickly developing his skills, and began competing in junior amateur tournaments. MORE:Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? It takes too much time practicing getting out of snookers, I'd rather practice break building." OSullivan beat Judd Trump to win his seventh World Championship, I couldnt care less what Stephen Hendry or anyone else says Allen on slow-play critics, Why theres no hiding place for anyone at the Shoot Out, he was fined several times in the last 12 months. Stephen Maguire became UK champion in 2004 and currently has six ranking titles to his name. Omissions? 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. Hed sacrificed much to get to the top and had no regrets. It almost took the pressure off me kind of thing, not that I'm under pressure to do anything. 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'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. 1995: Beats Nigel Bond in the World Championship final. From 1992 until his defeat by Ken Doherty in the 1997 World Championship final, he won 29 consecutive matches at the Crucible, a modern-era record. However, one big difference was how he approached the game itself. At 46 years and 146 days, the oldest ever world champion has most ranking titles (39), most Triple Crowns (21), most UK Championships (7), most Masters titles (7), most career centuries (1,170) and most maximum breaks (15), including the fastest ever made. As the Scottish Open begins in Edinburgh, its worth remembering that this had not always been the case. The record was previously set by Stephen Hendry back in 1999. The 1989-90 season was the beginning of Stephen Hendrys period of dominance, both in major tournaments and atop the world rankings. 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. To qualify for that would be incredible. Due tohis early success, Hendry earned the nickname The Golden Boy. His continued dominance led him to also become known as The Ice Man and The King of the Crucible. Even though he failed to defend his world championship title in 1991, Hendry struck back the following year, taking down White once again in the final of the 1992 World Snooker Championship. 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. What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? He has played a partial schedule in 2021 and 2022, never making it past the second round of a tournament. Hendry continued his ascent in his third professional season, winning his first world ranking titles at the 1987 Rothmans Grand Prix and the 1988 British Open. Once again, Hendry was setting records, with an unprecedented seventh world title. Until 1982, only the world championship counted as a ranking event; two others the International Open and the Professional Players Tournament were then added, as was the UK Championship in 1984. '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. Stephen Hendry with wife Mandy and son Blaine after beating Mark Williams 18-11 to win a record seventh world title. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. All rights reserved. 1 ranking for a period in 2005. For good measure Hendry also spent a recordbreaking nine years as world No 1, ahead of. "I can't really envisage it happening, there's just going to be more and more players knocking each other out.". Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2008 World Championship - Mark Williams, 10. He also had lost in the final in 1997, snapping a string of 30 straight wins in that event. He's an absolutely wonderful snooker player.. Just by being here as world number one no less the Romford man was setting a record for most consecutive Crucible appearances with 30, a tally that is level with Steve Davis overall record. Here's a look back through time at his 20 Triple Crown titles, his 15 career maximums and the typically memorable moment he scored his 1000th century last year. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. This remarkable completion of professional snookers Triple Crown by the young Hendry moved him into the No. "I will try to keep expectations lowthe animal that I am, if I start to get form, then the expectations will rise. Ronnie O'Sullivan records 776th century to break Stephen Hendry's record. Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? He'd previously brushed aside Dott (6-3), Ding Junhui (6-2) and Jimmy White (6-1) as he continued to dazzle the crowds. At the first World Team Cup in 1979, there was not even a Scottish team. OSullivan's magic seventh World Championship title against Judd Trump 21 years after his first finally draws him level with the 'King of the Crucible', but he stands alone at the top for all the other records that matter and many others. Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. Ronnie O'Sullivan v Barry Hawkins | FINAL 2016 Dafabet Masters Session 1, Joe Perry vs Ronnie O'Sullivan Masters 2017 (Final)( Session 2), Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Shaun Murphy - 2017 UK Championship, THE BEST OF 2018 UK FINAL! Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. Following the 1996 world championship, Hendrys play slipped. Prodigy then, legend now. Four years later, he turned professional. There are some young prospects in Scotland, but not in the numbers of 30 years ago. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. I wouldn't say it's the wrong decision - it's just down to the individual.". While Davis, the world number 39, has continued to play on the tour along with another legend, Jimmy White [ranked 44], Hendry has opted to quit 13 years after winning his last world title in 1999. Article bookmarked. 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. O'Sullivan may well still be a solitary world title shy of Hendry's historic mark of seven after his 18-8 victory over Kyren Wilson drew him level with Steve Davis and Ray Reardon, but few can possibly dispute the Rocket's unofficial status as the greatest snooker player of all 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan 775th Century with superb fluke! It was almost like that. 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. His youth made him a relatable figure to youngsters everywhere, but especially in Scotland. In contrast, OSullivan has won his Crucible crowns over more than two decades, with his first coming in 2001 and his latest in 2022. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan on whether he's just created the greatest sporting documentary of all time after giving it the fairytale ending. Photo: AP While Hendry is happy with his progress, he insisted that this was . "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 . Hendry won his first major junior tournament, the Scottish U-16 Championship, at age 14.Around this time, he appeared on the junior version of the BBCs Pot Black, a televised single-frame snooker competition that contributed to the games resurgence.At 15, Hendry won the Scottish Amateur Championship. Well worth a watch even for Ronnie fans! It's was the heaviest scoreline since the event's final became best of 19 frames back in 1993 and it's only been matched once since when Stephen Maguire thrashed David Gray in 2004. Once he decided he'd be the greatest player in the world, he achieved that.". Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. To be fair, Hendry had done everything to lower expectations. Davis was the best player of his generation but still played the percentages. There were a handful of Scottish professionals in the early years of TV snooker but they did not seriously challenge for titles, although one hard man, Eddie Sinclair, did take on the notoriously thirsty Canadian Bill Werbeniuk in a legendary drinking contest. Rocket's 30 years at Crucible - Ronnie O'Sullivan set to pass another Stephen Hendry record at 46th World Championship Ronnie O'Sullivan holds almost all of the key records in snooker, but. Hendry had observed Steve Davis aloofness, the way he set himself apart from his rivals. In 2020, Hendry was offered an invitational wildcard by World Snooker Tour, making him eligible to compete again on the circuit. 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). At the end of the 198990 season, Hendry, at 21 years 106 days, topped Jimmy White 1812 to become the youngest world champion ever. Steve Davis says he cannot imagine anyone bettering Stephen Hendry's tally of seven World Championship titles. The rate at which he's been losing his records hasnt been lost on Hendry, who was teased by Hazel Irvine and Steve Davis while on punditry duty about OSullivan potentially reaching 16 centuries at a single World Championship. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2003 World Championship - Marco Fu, 7. "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. "John Higgins is on four, it's very hard to see anyone reaching seven," said Davis, a six-time world champion. 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. A ranking tournament is one that counts towards snooker's world rankings, which were introduced in the 1976-77 season. While many had given the enigmatic Rocket GOAT status on talent grounds long before he'd surpassed Stephen Hendry's records for most ranking titles (36) and Triple Crowns (18) due to the . That's what a champion does, they don't play their best, they get to the final, and they still nearly win it. 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. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. He reeled off six consecutive frames to establish a four-frame advantage at the interval and despite a brief rally by his opponent he wrapped up victory with a break of 78. Copyright 2017-2023 Rookie Road Inc. All rights reserved. Fellow Glaswegian Anthony McGill has won two and Edinburghs Chris Small, forced to retire in 2005 due to a chronic back condition, one. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). . Hendry has always known that sole ownership of the sports most prestigious record was on borrowed time and recently insisted it would be an honour to share it with the player who stunned him as a 17-year-old in the 1993 UK Championship final. After the 1999 world championship, Hendrys fortunes faded once more. We share it, its alright to share that, Hendrys a legend of the game, an absolute legend of the game. Stephen Hendry has opted out of entering the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifiers only 12 months after returning following a nine-year absence. "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told. Ronnie O'sullivan 147 Break vs. Mark Selby, Ronnie O'Sullivan v Mark Williams 147 break, Snooker Ronnie O'Sullivan - Ding Junhui 147 Break, Ronnie O'Sullivan 13th 147 Maximum vs Matthew Selt UK Championship 2014 {BBC 720p HD}, 147 Classics: Ronnie O'Sullivan in China | Snooker | Eurosport, 147 Classics: Ronnie O'Sullivan | Snooker | Eurosport. In 1984, at age 15, Hendry became the youngest Scottish amateur snooker champion in history. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. The seventh, though, was like a dam breaking. Hendry was full-on attack, casting safety aside and always looking to open the balls and kill frames off in one visit. One of snooker's all-time greats Scotland's Stephen Hendry remains the player with the most World Championship titles to his name in the modern era following his record seven Crucible crowns won from 1990-1999. It earned him 75 of the 11million+ he's now won 30 years later. Why Do Snooker Players Use Their Chins When Shooting. Once it happened, it was almost kind of a relief, said Hendry. Harry Latham-Coyle. "Steve Davis: "Have you got any left? 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. His seventh and final World Snooker Championship title in 1999 set a record for most of all timea record which he held solely until Ronnie OSullivan tied the record with his 2022 championship win. The Scot, who dropped out of the elite top 16 earlier this season and is currently ranked 23, admitted having to qualify for this year's World Championship for the first time since 1988 "was not a nice feeling". Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2010 World Open - Mark King, 11. All rights reserved. Ronnie O'Sullivan's first TV appearance aged just 14 in 1990, making a break of 75. Ronnie O'Sullivan 2014 UK Championship - Matthew Selt, 14. This year he made the back pages for making amends in majestic fashion by compiling a breathtaking 147 break in the deciding frame of his semi-final with Mark Selby. O'Sullivan's sixth world title came on his 28th appearance in a row here, and during the final he played his 1,847th Crucible frame to creep past the record previously set by Hendry of 1,846. Welcome to my brand new YouTube channel, Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips. His tour card was subsequently renewed for another two seasons.. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. 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. The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. "For me - and I've said it since 1990 - he's the greatest player ever to lift a snooker cue. Hendry says he had an unusual feeling when. **Hendry resumed playing in 2021 after nine years out, but his future on the tour is unclear. 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. Career Total Statistics Tournament Record Most Frequent Opponents Rounds Reached Century Frequency Centuries per Season Graph Ranking History Prize Money History.