That year he also won the Australian Masters and successfully defended his Scottish Professional Championship and World Doubles Championship titles.. 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. O'Sullivan has achieved perfection in snooker but Hendry still stands ", Ronnie O'Sullivan has won seven world titles, CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO WATCH ALL THE CRUCIBLE 147s, Crucible Champions: A look at every winner, Crucible memories: White a People's Champion, Joint most World Championships (7, equal with Stephen Hendry), Oldest ever world champion (46 years, 148 days), Youngest ever ranking winner (17 years, 358 days UK Championship, 1993), Joint most Crucible appearances (30, equal with Steve Davis), Most consecutive Crucible appearances (30), Most Crucible match wins (74 from 97 matches), Joint most Crucible 147s (3, level with Stephen Hendry). He declared the match over when missing a red in frame six despite leading 24-0 at the time and although he later apologised to Hendry and his fans, O'Sullivan was fined 20,800 for his actions. 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. 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. Steve Davis says he cannot imagine anyone bettering Stephen Hendry's tally of seven World Championship titles. The 1989-90 season was the beginning of Stephen Hendrys period of dominance, both in major tournaments and atop the world rankings. O'Sullivan has always played down his pursuit of the record and maintained that stance in his post-match press conference. 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. Although he sat out of the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifying, Hendry stated that he intends to continue competing. He had pushed his career earnings past 6.2 million (about $10 million) and by November had reclaimed his number one ranking. To be fair, Hendry had done everything to lower expectations. How Stephen Hendry changed the way snooker was played and inspired a In 25 years time, maybe that record will fall too. O'Sullivan equalled the record of Stephen Hendry by winning his seventh World Championship . Eight years on from his initial retirement from the professional sport at the age of 43 at the end of the 2011/12 season, Hendry accepted an Invitational Tour Card from World Snooker Tour to pave the way for an incredible comeback to the sport that he once dominated. 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. 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. A year after John Higgins got his revenge in the 2006 final with a nail-biting 10-9 that went down to the black, O'Sullivan broke the heart of 19-year-old sensation Ding Junhui with a resounding 10-3 triumph featuring four Rocket centuries, including a fine clearance of 143. Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. He might not have been the last snooker king of Scotland but was the man who inspired a nation, and who brought it respect. Hendry had not even played the game before his parents bought him a half-sized table for Christmas in 1981. 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. Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies, Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Stephen Hendry has opted out of entering the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifiers only 12 months after returning following a nine-year absence. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2010 World Open - Mark King, 11. This remarkable completion of professional snookers Triple Crown by the young Hendry moved him into the No. He turned professional the following year, and when he won the Grand Prix in 1987, he became the youngest player to win a tournament. O'Sullivan was riding on a crest of a wave by the end of the year and after edging out Peter Ebdon 9-8 in the quarter-finals and Mark Williams 9-6 in the semis, the Rocket destroyed Ken Doherty 10-1 to land his third UK title. At the age of 17 years and 358 days he became the youngest ever winner of a ranking event and that record still stands. Although they've both thrilled the Sheffield crowd with three 147s apiece at snooker's spiritual home, the Rocket's incomprehensibly brilliant maiden maximum in five minutes eight seconds will never be surpassed and it speaks volumes that the closest anyone has ever got is O'Sullivan himself when clocking six minutes and 30 seconds against Marco Fu in 2003. To be the best was all he had ever wanted. All rights reserved. Please subscribe as we've got loads of amazing snooker content coming up over the next few months. Mon Oct 15 2018 - 13:17. He practised with military discipline, watched over by his no-nonsense manager, Ian Doyle, and the rewards came quickly. 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. 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. Some were more successful than others but they became regular faces on the circuit. Enjoy. Notwithstanding his absence from the top table and the feats of the likes of Ronnie OSullivan since, Hendry retains several records in the sport including nine seasons as world number one and being the only player to have won each of the sports Triple Crown titles during the same season twice. "John Higgins is on four, it's very hard to see anyone. What Are The Differences Between Snooker And Billiards? Comments. 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. Hendry changed the way snooker was played, ushering in a more attacking era and. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. At the first World Team Cup in 1979, there was not even a Scottish team. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. 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. His triumph, which came a quarter of a century after he won his first United Kingdom crown as a 17-year-old, also saw O'Sullivan nudge ahead of Stephen Hendry with 19 Triple Crown titles - comprising the World and UK Championships and the Masters. 'One from the archives' - Hendry makes fantastic brown to win frame, 'That is the Hendry we remember well!' 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. 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. O'Sullivan had finished runner-up in the Masters three times since his maiden title in this tournament in 1995 - to Hendry (1996), Steve Davis (1997) and Paul Hunter (2004) - but he'd get his hands on the new crystal triangle trophy with a 10-3 demolition job of John Higgins. **Hendry resumed playing in 2021 after nine years out, but his future on the tour is unclear. 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. The result gained revenge from losing a deciding frame in that year's Charity Challenge final, in which Hendry scored an iconic maximum break. 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. Earlier in the tournament he'd beaten Marcus Campbell (10-4), Ali Carter (13-8), Stuart Bingham (13-4) and Judd Trump 17-11. Ronnie OSullivan is the greatest snooker player of all time. Tribute to Stephen Hendry. But in 2014,. O'Sullivan set to pass another Hendry record 'It makes me so angry!' 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. He admired and coveted Daviss success and adopted his mindset. 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. He had 24 hours to decide whether to take it and he could not resist. He said: "I think it meant more to him than it does to me, to have seven world titles. Is Stephen Hendry the Greatest Snooker Ever? Bio & Ranking - Players Bio 1 spot in the world rankings for the first time. 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. In 1984, at age 15, Hendry became the youngest Scottish amateur snooker champion in history. He's going to be winning this a few times and the other guys better get their act together. There were so many - 70 titles in total - that we had to settle on just a dozen. "Then you let the snooker gods decide what they're going to decide, and these 17 days they were on my side. His tour card was subsequently renewed for another two seasons.. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. 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. A ranking tournament is one that counts towards snooker's world rankings, which were introduced in the 1976-77 season. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. However, he began competing again in 2021. Eight years on from his initial retirement from the professional sport at the age of 43 at the end of the 2011/12 season . Despite what he says about his cue action. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is Joe Davis, who won 15 consecutive titles from 1927 to 1946. Ronnie O'Sullivan roof raising moment part 6567676: The way he scores the 100th point of his 1000th century. During this period in the early 1990s, a wave of Scottish talent flooded the professional ranks. It takes too much time practicing getting out of snookers, I'd rather practice break building." 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. 1995: Beats Nigel Bond in the World Championship final. However, one big difference was how he approached the game itself. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. 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. I'm enjoying the process.". 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. But it was a strange feeling I had. Hendrys seven world titles all came during his dominant spell in the 1990s, which also included eight consecutive seasons as world No. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. OSullivan has already ticked off the other major records Hendry held including most Triple Crown wins and most ranking tournament titles. Unlike White or even Davis, he did not play for the pure love of snooker but because of an obsession with being the best. Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips - YouTube Finishes Tournaments played: 3 Category Winner Even Neil Robertson is laughing by the end of the title-winning break. Who Has Won The Most World Snooker Championships? It earned him 75 of the 11million+ he's now won 30 years later. 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. It is unclear if Hendry will be offered another wild card to continue playing or if he will accept it. Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. We share it, its alright to share that, Hendrys a legend of the game, an absolute legend of the game. Once it happened, it was almost kind of a relief, said Hendry. He repeated as world champ from 1992 to 1996. In recognition of his excellence in the sport, Hendry was knighted, receiving a MBE recognition in 1994. He is much older and less driven, and the game has moved on with far more players capable now of playing to a high standard. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. "Hopefully, if I can keep getting better and keep improving, my technique becomes reliable and I can get to a better pace, then next year will be the goal to get back to the Crucible," he said after his win over old foe White last year. In recognition of his excellence in the sport, Hendry was knighted, receiving a MBE recognition in 1994. Walter Donaldson became the world champion in the post-war era, but for a long time, Scotland lagged behind the other UK nations. For good measure Hendry also spent a recordbreaking nine years as world No 1, ahead of. 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. Once he decided he'd be the greatest player in the world, he achieved that.". That year he won the Dubai Classic, the Asian Open, the Scottish Masters, the UK Championship, and the Masters. 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. Turning professional at 17, Hendry made a strong start in his first season, winning the 1986 Scottish Professional Championship. From March 1990 to January 1991, Hendry won 5 straight titles and 36 consecutive matches to post the longest unbeaten string in the sports history. 6x World champion 7x UK champion 7x Masters champion 20 Triple Crowns A record 37th ranking title 1,061 century breaks 15 147s Legendary brilliance on the table Legendary entertainment off it Ronnie O'Sullivan, the GOAT pic.twitter.com/jeDAixy07w. In 2020, Hendry was offered an invitational wildcard by World Snooker Tour, making him eligible to compete again on the circuit. A ranking tournament is one that counts towards snooker's world rankings, which were introduced in the 1976-77 season. 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. Stephen Hendry retires after World Snooker Championship defeat Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. At 53, it is surely impossible for Hendry to recapture former glories. Just 16 when he joined the circuit, he was completely driven from the start. O'Sullivan's inactivity in the previous season had saw him slump down to 19 in the rankings but his status as world champion earned him a spot in the Masters field. . Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. To qualify for that would be incredible. 2014 UK Championship Final: Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Judd Trump DECIDER! Fellow Glaswegian Anthony McGill has won two and Edinburghs Chris Small, forced to retire in 2005 due to a chronic back condition, one. 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. It capped a tumultuous tournament for O'Sullivan, who had threatened to launch a breakaway tour then required a final-frame decider to edge past veteran Ken Doherty in round two. Omissions? Stephen Hendry believes Mark Selby to be a greater threat to his record of seven World Snooker Championship titles than Ronnie O'Sullivan, says Steve Davis. He also talks about whether it was extra motivation pic.twitter.com/n58nxPeGaK. 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. pic.twitter.com/l31qIFsXDp, Ronnie O'Sullivan wins his match 10-1 in 108 minutes. Discovery company. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2007 Northern Ireland Trophy - Ali Carter, 8. He had never intended to be like his old rival Jimmy White and enter every event. This is generally known as the start of the 'modern era'. This maximum in an exhibition against Reanne Evans last year is also well worth a watch. 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. 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. 1996: Fifth consecutive world title comes with final victory over Peter Ebdon. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Welcome to my brand new YouTube channel, Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips. Victories in the Scottish Open and the Irish Masters rebuilt his confidence, and at the 1999 world championship he survived an especially tough draw to reach the final, in which he defeated Mark Williams 1811. He claimed the number one ranking in 1990 and held it until White defeated him at the world championship in 1998. The year was 1996. Stephen Hendry's ex-wife sells off 900k former marital - Daily Record Steve Davis says he cannot imagine anyone bettering Stephen Hendry's tally of seven World Championship titles. After being ranked number one in the world for eight consecutive seasons, he lost the top spot with a first-round loss in the 1998 world championship. 'Embarrassment, anger, sadness': the decline of the great Stephen Hendry Davis, 54, beat Hendry in the 1989 World Championship semi-finals en route to winning his last title at the Crucible, with Scotsman Hendry turning the tables at the same stage five years later. 2005: Wins his 36th and most recent ranking title at the Malta Cup. 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. Interviews over a few. 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.