He has played only a handful of events and found victories hard to come by. Despite what he says about his cue action. Stephen Gordon Hendry was born on January 13, 1969, in South Queensferry, Scotland. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. 'Feels amazing' Higgins ends 13-month title drought by retaining Championship League crown, Watch Robertson produce magic as Trump leads final Championship League group. 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. "Then you let the snooker gods decide what they're going to decide, and these 17 days they were on my side. Tuesday 03 May 2022 09:19. Just 16 when he joined the circuit, he was completely driven from the start. 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. 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. In 25 years time, maybe that record will fall too. Davis, who lost the 1989 and 1990 UK Championship finals to Hendry, continued: "In a way I feel that it's quite a sad day for me. 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. Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. Glaswegian Alan McManus had already turned professional in 1990 and made an immediate breakthrough, reaching the UK Championship semi-finals and winning the Masters qualifying event in his debut season. Discovery company. During this period in the early 1990s, a wave of Scottish talent flooded the professional ranks. 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. In recognition of his excellence in the sport, Hendry was knighted, receiving a MBE recognition in 1994. 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. Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. 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. He practised with military discipline, watched over by his no-nonsense manager, Ian Doyle, and the rewards came quickly. 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. One of snookers all-time greats Scotlands 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. 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. Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? 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. 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. Then a week or so afterwards, I was like, OK, he's got the mantle now to live up to. His youth made him a relatable figure to youngsters everywhere, but especially in Scotland. "Obviously a name for the future. Yes, that's yet another record and four clear of Hendry. The 1989-90 season was the beginning of Stephen Hendrys period of dominance, both in major tournaments and atop the world rankings. A series of records fell in his wake. 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. 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. As an added bonus, here's how he equalled Stephen Hendry's century break record of 775 against Ricky Walden Ronnie O'Sullivan's incredible career in numbers, RONNIE O'SULLIVAN WINS HIS SIXTH WORLD SNOOKER TITLE AT THE CRUCIBLE, Ronnie O'Sullivan wins UK Championship 1993, B&H Masters 1995 Final: Ronnie O'Sullivan Vs John Higgins Part 2, SNOOKER UK CHAMP 1997 final O`Sullivan vs Hendry part 2, Stephen Hendry 147 v Ronnie O'Sullivan Decider Charity Challenge 1997, 2001 World Snooker Championship Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs John Higgins, 2004 World Snooker Championship Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Graeme Dott Session 4 (BBC), 2005 Snooker the Masters Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs John Higgins Frame 9-13, DECIDER O'Sullivan v Selby SF 2007 UK Championship, 2007 Snooker UK Championship Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Stephen Maguire Frame 9-12, Ronnie's 147 v Williams at the 2008 World Championship, 2008 World Snooker Championship Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Ali Carter Frame 21-24, 2009 Snooker The Masters Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Mark Selby Frame 13-18, Ronnie O'Sullivan v Ali Carter 2012 World Championship, Amazing 2013 World Championship Final | O'Sullivan - Hawkins, Selby v O'Sullivan FINAL FRAME 2014 Masters HD1080p. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. 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. 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%. Hendry holds the record for the most seasons as the no.1 player; he was ranked no.1 for nine seasons. Turning professional at 17, Hendry made a strong start in his first season, winning the 1986 Scottish Professional Championship. 2005: Wins his 36th and most recent ranking title at the Malta Cup. Tai Chengzhe/Visual China Group via Getty Images. ", 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). 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. He managed it in six minutes and there was an amusing moment at the end when he removed the sponsor logo from his waistcoat! pic.twitter.com/l31qIFsXDp, Ronnie O'Sullivan wins his match 10-1 in 108 minutes. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. Corrections? By becoming the first player since Paul Hunter in 2002 to retain it, O'Sullivan could celebrate a record seventh Masters title. Perhaps it had to if he was to avoid serious burnout. No player since Hendry in 1996 had retained the trophy while his 128th Crucible century during the 18-12 triumph over Barry Hawkins saw him move past the Scotsman's all-time record. Why Do Snooker Players Use Their Chins When Shooting. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2007 UK Championship - Mark Selby, 9. - Hendry and Robertson not impressed with how some pros train, Hendry: O'Sullivan is the only player that doesnt speak to anyone. 'It makes me so angry!' To be fair, Hendry had done everything to lower expectations. Following the 1996 world championship, Hendrys play slipped. The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. 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! 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. 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). 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan 775th Century with superb fluke! Ronnie O'Sullivan is happy to share the World Snooker Championship record with 'absolute legend' Stephen Hendry but feels that the feat means more to the Scot than it does to. 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 claimed the number one ranking in 1990 and held it until White defeated him at the world championship in 1998. 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. His top break of 141 was the highest in a World Championship final, beating O'Sullivan's previous best mark of 139 in 2001. 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. 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. Stephen Maguire became UK champion in 2004 and currently has six ranking titles to his name. Career Total Statistics Tournament Record Most Frequent Opponents Rounds Reached Century Frequency Centuries per Season Graph Ranking History Prize Money History. At 20, he captured the Masters and UK Championship, and at 21 was crowned the youngest ever world champion. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2018 English Open - Allan Taylor. His 16 centuries in the 2002 world championship also set a record. Having recently been awarded an OBE for his services to snooker, the Rocket beat Mark Williams (6-5), Mark Selby (6-3), Stuart Bingham (6-3) before annihilating Barry Hawkins 10-1 to equal Hendry's tally of six Masters titles. Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has announced his retirement from snooker after a heavy 13-2 defeat by Stephen Maguire at the Crucible. 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. "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. Once again, Hendry was setting records, with an unprecedented seventh world title. It was the biggest margin of victory in the tournament's final since Steve Davis whitewashed Mike Hallett 9-0 in 1988. At the end of the 198990 season, Hendry, at 21 years 106 days, topped Jimmy White 1812 to become the youngest world champion ever. 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. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. pic.twitter.com/jWWr6mfcAd. We share it, its alright to share that, Hendrys a legend of the game, an absolute legend of the game. The record was previously set by Stephen Hendry back in 1999. 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. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. 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. He'd previously brushed aside Dott (6-3), Ding Junhui (6-2) and Jimmy White (6-1) as he continued to dazzle the crowds. He represented his nation at the highest level of a hugely popular sport with distinction, winning 36 ranking tournaments including seven World Championships. 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. When the 96/97 season began, there were nine Scots ranked inside the top 64 and plenty more coming up on the rails. 1999: Wins his record seventh world title, seeing off Mark Williams in the final. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In terms of weeks spent as world number one, as of April 18, 2022, Stephen Hendry tops the list. Higgins, 47, continues to have a successful career at the top level with 31 ranking event victories to his name, including four world titles. 2014 UK Championship Final: Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Judd Trump DECIDER! 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. Davis was the best player of his generation but still played the percentages. 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. Well worth a watch even for Ronnie fans! Hendry had observed Steve Davis aloofness, the way he set himself apart from his rivals. Discovery company. 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. 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. 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. Earlier in the tournament he'd beaten Marcus Campbell (10-4), Ali Carter (13-8), Stuart Bingham (13-4) and Judd Trump 17-11. Even Neil Robertson is laughing by the end of the title-winning break. The seventh, though, was like a dam breaking. In 1984, at age 15, Hendry became the youngest Scottish amateur snooker champion in history. MORE:Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? 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. 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. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. "For me - and I've said it since 1990 - he's the greatest player ever to lift a snooker cue. He also had lost in the final in 1997, snapping a string of 30 straight wins in that event. 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. **Hendry resumed playing in 2021 after nine years out, but his future on the tour is unclear. "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 resumed playing in 2021 after nine years out, but his future on the tour is unclear. The 53-year-old, who first lifted the famous trophy aged 21, quipped: "Well he cant become the youngest world champion, not even Ronnie can do that., Davis replied: But he is playing like Benjamin Button.. He had never intended to be like his old rival Jimmy White and enter every event. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2018 China Open - Elliot Slessor, 15. Ronnie O'Sullivan roof raising moment part 6567676: The way he scores the 100th point of his 1000th century. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. He intends to continue playing, and his tour card has been renewed through 2024. It was the eighth maximum of his career and he followed it up by thrashing Stephen Maguire 10-2 for his fourth UK title. The age of professionalism in Scottish snooker came courtesy of a shy teenager who possessed a laser-like focus rarely witnessed before or since. OSullivan has already ticked off the other major records Hendry held including most Triple Crown wins and most ranking tournament titles. "I would say no, because there are so many great players competing against each other to win every tournament," he told BBC Sport. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. He was that dominant. 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. After winning his first World Championship in 1990, he became the youngest player ever to lift the title at 21. . 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. 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". Stephen Hendry has opted out of entering the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifiers only 12 months after returning following a nine-year absence. Photo: AP While Hendry is happy with his progress, he insisted that this was . Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1999 Welsh Open v James Wattana, 3. What Are The Differences Between Snooker And Billiards? Comments. The 43-year-old, who . Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is Joe Davis, who won 15 consecutive titles from 1927 to 1946. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. Considering all categories of tournament, including ranking, non-ranking and invitational, Steve Davis has won the most titles in snooker. Walter Donaldson became the world champion in the post-war era, but for a long time, Scotland lagged behind the other UK nations. To qualify for that would be incredible. believes Hendry's achievements mark him out as the stand-out player in the sport's history. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2007 Northern Ireland Trophy - Ali Carter, 8. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. "I can't really envisage it happening, there's just going to be more and more players knocking each other out.". 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. Rocket Ronnie's 30 years at Crucible O'Sullivan set to pass another Hendry record, 'Crucible return is ultimate goal' Hendry ready to continue playing, Age winning first ranking title: 18 (1987 Grand Prix), Age winning first world title: 21 (1990 World Championship), Age winning last ranking title: 36 (2005 Malta Cup). 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). "Hendry: "Well he can't become the youngest world champion"Davis: "But he is playing like Benjamin Button." Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told BBC Radio 5 live. 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. "One thing you never stop missing as a sportsman is the buzz you get from a crowd. Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies, Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2008 World Championship - Mark Williams, 10. Hendry himself did not rule out someone overtaking his record eventually, even if the odds are against it. In 1996, with an 1812 victory over Peter Ebdon, Hendry captured his sixth world championship, a feat only two other players (Ray Reardon in the 1970s and Steve Davis in the 1980s) had achieved in the modern era. Hendry has the longest unbeaten streak in ranking tournament play, winning 36 consecutive matches in 1990 and 1991. 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. Once it happened, it was almost kind of a relief, said Hendry. It earned him 75 of the 11million+ he's now won 30 years later. Hendry was 30 and the extraordinary intensity he had given to be the best seemed to wane. 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. Finishes Tournaments played: 3 Category Winner Mon Oct 15 2018 - 13:17. A ranking tournament is one that counts towards snooker's world rankings, which were introduced in the 1976-77 season. Later Career "The ultimate goal is to play one more match at the Crucible. 1. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2011 Paul Hunter Classic - Adam Duffy, 12. He admired and coveted Daviss success and adopted his mindset. Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. That year he won the Dubai Classic, the Asian Open, the Scottish Masters, the UK Championship, and the Masters. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. Although he sat out of the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifying, Hendry stated that he intends to continue competing. Eight years on from his initial retirement from the professional sport at the age of 43 at the end of the 2011/12 season . SUBSCRIBE for the biggest and best videos from the only official World Snooker channel on YouTubeWebsite: www.wst.tvTwitter: @WeAreWSTFacebook: /WorldSnooker. He shares the record for most World Snooker Championship wins with Ronnie OSullivan: both have seven titles. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2003 World Championship - Marco Fu, 7. Higgins showed some early promise, developed a maturity in his game beyond his years and won the junior event at the 1991 World Masters in Birmingham, beating fellow 15-year-olds Ronnie OSullivan and Mark Williams en route. MORE:Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? This remarkable completion of professional snookers Triple Crown by the young Hendry moved him into the No. And just as the 2017 sequel to Trainspotting doesnt alter the majesty of the original, Hendrys stuttering comeback doesnt change any of that. This is generally known as the start of the 'modern era'. In 2020, Hendry accepted a tour card for the World Snooker Tour, indicating his return to professional play. Ronnie O'Sullivan on whether he's just created the greatest sporting documentary of all time after giving it the fairytale ending. Read about our approach to external linking. Selby clinched his fourth triumph this . Hendry had not even played the game before his parents bought him a half-sized table for Christmas in 1981. In terms of weeks spent as world number one, as of April 18, 2022, Stephen Hendry tops the list. Growing up, he also spent time living in Edinburgh and Fife. At the moment it is about trying to get back to playing some good snooker.". Steve Davis says he cannot imagine anyone bettering Stephen Hendry's tally of seven World Championship titles. It was almost like that. I'm sure you're as excited watching at home as we are here." O'Sullivan equalled the record of Stephen Hendry by winning his seventh World Championship .