Higgins, 47, continues to have a successful career at the top level with 31 ranking event victories to his name, including four world titles. 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. 'It's just a number': Ronnie O'Sullivan plays down record-equalling Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? Hendry, O 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. He practised with military discipline, watched over by his no-nonsense manager, Ian Doyle, and the rewards came quickly. Enjoy. 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. A series of records fell in his wake. He was that dominant. In terms of weeks spent as world number one, as of April 18, 2022, Stephen Hendry tops the list. 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. - Hendry and Robertson not impressed with how some pros train, Hendry: O'Sullivan is the only player that doesnt speak to anyone. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips - YouTube "I would say no, because there are so many great players competing against each other to win every tournament," he told BBC Sport. Ronnie O'Sullivan on whether he's just created the greatest sporting documentary of all time after giving it the fairytale ending. 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). pic.twitter.com/PoE9RBEcNh. 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. Prodigy then, legend now. Ronnie O'Sullivan 2014 UK Championship - Matthew Selt, 14. This is a shame as the audience at the Meadowbank Centre would surely love to salute him. Why Do Snooker Players Use Their Chins When Shooting. All these matches are part of the process, and getting me comfortable in arenas again. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Ronnie O'Sullivan reacts to equalling 'absolute legend' Stephen Hendry His five match wins during this edition took him to 74 Crucible victories, four more than one of other Hendrys few remaining records. Ronnie O'Sullivan roof raising moment part 6567676: The way he scores the 100th point of his 1000th century. "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. Tied at 42 pints apiece, Sinclair hit the deck and Werbeniuk went to the bar for a celebratory beer. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. 1999: Wins his record seventh world title, seeing off Mark Williams in the final. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. Stephen Hendry - Wikipedia - Stunning clearance after big White miss, You have to write off the first year OSullivan on Hendry comeback, 'Youve got a long night ahead!' We look back at his 28. Some were more successful than others but they became regular faces on the circuit. 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. "One thing you never stop missing as a sportsman is the buzz you get from a crowd. 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. Stephen Hendry's Record Breaking Century | 1994 UK Championship Final The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. He had never intended to be like his old rival Jimmy White and enter every event. Stephen Hendry proceeded to defend his title for the following four years. 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%. 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. Three months later he successfully defended the World Championship title for the first time in his career. 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. 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. 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. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. After winning his first World Championship in 1990, he became the youngest player ever to lift the title at 21. Any excuse to dig this uppic.twitter.com/hzoGnnsx9W, 1. This remarkable completion of professional snookers Triple Crown by the young Hendry moved him into the No. Welcome to my brand new YouTube channel, Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips. 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. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is. "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 . I'm enjoying the process.". 1995: Beats Nigel Bond in the World Championship final. "Hendry: "Well he can't become the youngest world champion"Davis: "But he is playing like Benjamin Button." There are some young prospects in Scotland, but not in the numbers of 30 years ago. 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. His 16 centuries in the 2002 world championship also set a record. What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? He intends to continue playing, and his tour card has been renewed through 2024. 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. He had pushed his career earnings past 6.2 million (about $10 million) and by November had reclaimed his number one ranking. Stephen Hendry | Biography, Comeback, & Facts | Britannica The year was 1996. Read about our approach to external linking. Discovery company. Tribute to Stephen Hendry. . What Is The Prize of The World Snooker Championship? 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. "Steve Davis: "Have you got any left? Stephen Hendry bestrode the sport in the 90s in an almost imperious way. Selby clinched his fourth triumph this . 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. 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. MORE:Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? 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. Rocket's 30 years at Crucible - Ronnie O'Sullivan set to pass another Twelve months earlier, the Rocket hit the headlines for the wrong reasons at the Barbican when forfeiting his quarter-final against Stephen Hendry when trailing 4-1 in the first to nine frames. 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. Perhaps it had to if he was to avoid serious burnout. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2000 Scottish Open v Quinten Hann, 5. Considering all categories of tournament, including ranking, non-ranking and invitational, Steve Davis has won the most titles in snooker. '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. In 25 years time, maybe that record will fall too. 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. The seventh, though, was like a dam breaking. Stephen Hendry has admitted he did not want Ronnie OSullivan to equal his haul of seven World Championship titles, and does not want him to surpass their now joint-record. 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. He has won 36 full-ranking titles to date, including 18 Triple Crown titles bettered only by OSullivan as well as having compiled 11 maximum breaks during his career. He set a professional snooker record by scoring 556 unanswered points in a 6-0 quarter-final victory over Ricky Walden in 58 minutes and went on to reach his 10th final in the event - breaking Hendry's previous best of nine. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2014 Welsh Open - Ding Junhui, 13. 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. 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. What TV channel is 2022 World Snooker Championship final? At 53, it is surely impossible for Hendry to recapture former glories. 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. At the first World Team Cup in 1979, there was not even a Scottish team. Article bookmarked. Corrections? 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. 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). All rights reserved. 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. Tai Chengzhe/Visual China Group via Getty Images. A ranking tournament is one that counts towards snooker's world rankings, which were introduced in the 1976-77 season. Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? Hendry, O