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. They each joined the pro circuit the following year. Last week, he was thrashed 5-0 by Matthew Stevens in the German Masters qualifiers. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. He had pushed his career earnings past 6.2 million (about $10 million) and by November had reclaimed his number one ranking. He had never intended to be like his old rival Jimmy White and enter every event. Hendry was 30 and the extraordinary intensity he had given to be the best seemed to wane. It takes too much time practicing getting out of snookers, I'd rather practice break building." It earned him 75 of the 11million+ he's now won 30 years later. 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. Hendrys seven world titles all came during his dominant spell in the 1990s, which also included eight consecutive seasons as world No. While anarchy reigned on the big screen, another Scotsman was at the peak of his powers, monopolising TV time as he swept all before him. Steve Davis says he cannot imagine anyone bettering Stephen Hendry's tally of seven World Championship titles. He competed in the World Amateur Championship that year, setting a record for being the youngest entrant ever.. 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. 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. Article bookmarked. 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. Stephen Hendry has admitted he did not want Ronnie O'Sullivan 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. Higgins, 47, continues to have a successful career at the top level with 31 ranking event victories to his name, including four world titles. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. 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. 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. Stephen Maguire became UK champion in 2004 and currently has six ranking titles to his name. "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. 1995: Beats Nigel Bond in the World Championship final. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1999 Welsh Open v James Wattana, 3. He claimed the number one ranking in 1990 and held it until White defeated him at the world championship in 1998. Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. This is a shame as the audience at the Meadowbank Centre would surely love to salute him. 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. What TV channel is 2022 World Snooker Championship final? Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Mark Allen, Ronnie O'Sullivan's seven UK Championship titles, Ronnie O'Sullivan is world champion for a sixth time, Ronnie O'Sullivan Fastest 147 Break Ever | 1997 Snooker World Championship | Eurosport, Ronnie O'Sullivan v James Wattana - 147 Break, Ronnie O'Sullivan v Graeme Dott 147 break, Ronnie O'Sullivan v Quinten Hann - 147 break, Must see!!! Stephen Hendry - WPBSA 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. 'pic.twitter.com/7eVJQ8XH6D, If you consider the high stakes, the context, the pressure, this must be one of the greatest shots in the history of snooker from Ronnie OSullivan. 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. It was the biggest margin of victory in the tournament's final since Steve Davis whitewashed Mike Hallett 9-0 in 1988. Unseen footage: OSullivan breaks down in tears as seventh world title sinks in, 'I hated it' - O'Sullivan on why he did not enjoy winning seventh world title. 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. Hendry had observed Steve Davis aloofness, the way he set himself apart from his rivals. 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. Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title, Hendry had stated his main aim was to come through four qualifying rounds to return to the Crucible, scene of his finest moments in the sport, when he embarked upon his comeback after working with much-lauded SightRight coach, "I know that kind of means nothing, but when I first started with Stephen Feeney, I wanted to get back to enjoying playing snooker again even if it was on the practice table,". Some were more successful than others but they became regular faces on the circuit. Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies, Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Hendry was full-on attack, casting safety aside and always looking to open the balls and kill frames off in one visit. Hendry says he had an unusual feeling when. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2011 Paul Hunter Classic - Adam Duffy, 12. At 19 years and 69 days, O'Sullivan became the youngest Masters champion and that record stands today. 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. 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. The following season, he successfully defended that title and won the World Doubles Championship with partner Mike Hallett. 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. He repeated as world champ from 1992 to 1996. Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. Ronnie OSullivan registered the 1000th century break of his extraordinary career to win the final of the 2019 Players Championship. 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. You put all that work in to get the record but if he does then fair play because he's taken the game to another level. Perhaps it had to if he was to avoid serious burnout. Stephen Hendry | Biography, Comeback, & Facts | BritannicaStephen Hendry's Record Breaking Century | 1994 UK Championship Final Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. At the moment it is about trying to get back to playing some good snooker.". 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. Stephen Hendry's Crucible record unbeatable - Davis - BBC Sport At the age of 17 years and 358 days he became the youngest ever winner of a ranking event and that record still stands. As if to underline how disappointing the comeback has been, the man himself did not enter the event. 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. Hendry won five consecutive Masters titles between 1989 and 1993 and five consecutive world titles between 1992 and 1996, both records in the modern era. 1996: Fifth consecutive world title comes with final victory over Peter Ebdon. pic.twitter.com/jWWr6mfcAd. Hendry changed the way snooker was played, ushering in a more attacking era and. What Is The Prize of The World Snooker Championship? Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. O'Sullivan has achieved perfection in snooker but Hendry still stands What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1999 Grand Prix v Graeme Dott, 4. 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. O'Sullivan equalled the record of Stephen Hendry by winning his seventh World Championship . But it was a strange feeling I had. 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. We share it, its alright to share that, Hendrys a legend of the game, an absolute legend of the game. 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. 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. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. But I'm not going to lie and say I did want him to equal that because I didn't., Stream top snooker action, including the Shoot Out, live on, 'Feels amazing' Higgins ends 13-month title drought by retaining Championship League crown, Zhao and Yan to miss World Championship ahead of match-fixing hearing. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. Any excuse to dig this uppic.twitter.com/hzoGnnsx9W, 1. After the 1999 world championship, Hendrys fortunes faded once more. Enjoy. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2000 Scottish Open v Quinten Hann, 5. 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. 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. As the Scottish Open begins in Edinburgh, its worth remembering that this had not always been the case. Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies, Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? 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. 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. Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? believes Hendry's achievements mark him out as the stand-out player in the sport's history. 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. Welcome to my brand new YouTube channel, Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips. 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. The only trophies Hendry has ever wanted to handle are the ones he has won. He represented his nation at the highest level of a hugely popular sport with distinction, winning 36 ranking tournaments including seven World Championships. This is generally known as the start of the 'modern era'. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. Fast forward to the 2012 World Championship, which he lost to Stephen Maguire, after which he announced his retirement. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is. However, he began competing again in 2021. Ronnie's reply"I'm never going to be good at getting out of snookers. What Are The Differences Between Snooker And Billiards? "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. Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has announced his retirement from snooker after a heavy 13-2 defeat by Stephen Maguire at the Crucible. pic.twitter.com/PoE9RBEcNh. Ronnie O'Sullivan's sixth World Championship breaks the ranking title After winning his first World Championship in 1990, he became the youngest player ever to lift the title at 21. 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. 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. To be fair, Hendry had done everything to lower expectations. Once again, Hendry was setting records, with an unprecedented seventh world title. His five match wins during this edition took him to 74 Crucible victories, four more than one of other Hendrys few remaining records. In 2020, Hendry accepted a tour card for the World Snooker Tour, indicating his return to professional play. Stephen Hendry has Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby theory 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. He also had lost in the final in 1997, snapping a string of 30 straight wins in that event. "One thing you never stop missing as a sportsman is the buzz you get from a crowd. "I can't see Stephen changing his mind; once he decides on something, that's it. He wont even be there to present the trophy. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2018 China Open - Elliot Slessor, 15. Then a week or so afterwards, I was like, OK, he's got the mantle now to live up to. 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. Just 16 when he joined the circuit, he was completely driven from the start. The year was 1996. The 1989-90 season was the beginning of Stephen Hendrys period of dominance, both in major tournaments and atop the world rankings. At the first World Team Cup in 1979, there was not even a Scottish team. For good measure Hendry also spent a recordbreaking nine years as world No 1, ahead of. 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. 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). Tai Chengzhe/Visual China Group via Getty Images. The winner of this weeks Scottish Open receives the Stephen Hendry trophy. Omissions? "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told BBC Radio 5 live. Please subscribe as we've got loads of amazing snooker content coming up over the next few months. Prodigy then, legend now. 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. 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. And just as the 2017 sequel to Trainspotting doesnt alter the majesty of the original, Hendrys stuttering comeback doesnt change any of that. 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. Stephen Hendry: "Are you saying another record of mine is going? I wouldn't say it's the wrong decision - it's just down to the individual.". "Its just a number at the end of the day, I dont get too caught up with it to be honest with you.". His youth made him a relatable figure to youngsters everywhere, but especially in Scotland. His 16 centuries in the 2002 world championship also set a record. Is Stephen Hendry the Greatest Snooker Ever? Bio & Ranking - Players BioWho has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? Hendry, O The scene was vibrant. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire . 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. 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. Hendry himself did not rule out someone overtaking his record eventually, even if the odds are against it. 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. Comments. Ronnie O'Sullivan reacts to equalling 'absolute legend' Stephen Hendry Three months later he successfully defended the World Championship title for the first time in his career. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2018 English Open - Allan Taylor. Maybe they need another talisman to look up to, but the Hendrys of this world are rare. 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. 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. **Hendry resumed playing in 2021 after nine years out, but his future on the tour is unclear. pic.twitter.com/K1gRIJLnz9, Mark Selby thought Ronnie O'Sullivan's cavalier approach to getting out of his snookers was disrespectful. Having spent most of his career doing his own thing, he suddenly became friendly with the other players and, by his own admission, lost some of his edge. The result gained revenge from losing a deciding frame in that year's Charity Challenge final, in which Hendry scored an iconic maximum break. "I can't really envisage it happening, there's just going to be more and more players knocking each other out.".
