In 2020, Hendry was offered an invitational wildcard by World Snooker Tour, making him eligible to compete again on the circuit. 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. 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. At the first World Team Cup in 1979, there was not even a Scottish team. 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. All rights reserved. "Obviously a name for the future. "One thing you never stop missing as a sportsman is the buzz you get from a crowd. 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 circuit currently boasts only eight Scottish professionals. Ronnie O'Sullivan makes a maximum break 147 in 6 min on first frame! He practised with military discipline, watched over by his no-nonsense manager, Ian Doyle, and the rewards came quickly. 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. All rights reserved. Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? While his Triple Crown success dried up for a few years, O'Sullivan was still building his tally of ranking and non-ranking titles and it surely seemed just a matter of time before he'd finally go all the way on the biggest stage of all. I didnt want Ronnie to equal my record and I dont want him to beat my record, why would I? Hendry said on the WST Podcast. MORE:Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Comments. Photo: AP While Hendry is happy with his progress, he insisted that this was . 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. 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. 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. He's going to be winning this a few times and the other guys better get their act together. 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. Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? The record was previously set by Stephen Hendry back in 1999. Just 16 when he joined the circuit, he was completely driven from the start. Who set these standards? 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. "Hendry: "Well he can't become the youngest world champion"Davis: "But he is playing like Benjamin Button." Ronnie O'Sullivan claimed a record-breaking seventh UK Championship title with a 10-6 victory over Mark Allen at the York Barbican. 1 ranking for a period in 2005. He also talks about whether it was extra motivation pic.twitter.com/n58nxPeGaK. The winner of this weeks Scottish Open receives the Stephen Hendry trophy. Perhaps it had to if he was to avoid serious burnout. Some were more successful than others but they became regular faces on the circuit. Hendry says he had an unusual feeling when. Tai Chengzhe/Visual China Group via Getty Images. 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. That's what a champion does, they don't play their best, they get to the final, and they still nearly win it. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Later Career As if to underline how disappointing the comeback has been, the man himself did not enter the event. He had never intended to be like his old rival Jimmy White and enter every event. Who Has Won The Most World Snooker Championships? 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. All rights reserved. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is Joe Davis, who won 15 consecutive titles from 1927 to 1946. "I can't see Stephen changing his mind; once he decides on something, that's it. The 43-year-old, who . 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. 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. In his Masters quarter-final against Marco Fu, Ronnie O'Sullivan fired in his 776th career century, taking him one . 1 spot in the world rankings for the first time. 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. 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. "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. Hendry himself did not rule out someone overtaking his record eventually, even if the odds are against it. This is a shame as the audience at the Meadowbank Centre would surely love to salute him. '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. 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. - Stunning clearance after big White miss, You have to write off the first year OSullivan on Hendry comeback, 'Youve got a long night ahead!' Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2007 Northern Ireland Trophy - Ali Carter, 8. Copyright 2017-2023 Rookie Road Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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. I'm sure you're as excited watching at home as we are here." 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. 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. The following season, he successfully defended that title and won the World Doubles Championship with partner Mike Hallett. 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). 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. Well worth a watch even for Ronnie fans! Stephen Maguire became UK champion in 2004 and currently has six ranking titles to his name. 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. In typical fashion, the 100th point of his 1000th century was secured left-handed, and O'Sullivan - to continued, rapturous applause - went on to clear the table fully, even the white finding its way to the pocket to deny what would've been a 141. Discovery company. Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has announced his retirement from snooker after a heavy 13-2 defeat by Stephen Maguire at the Crucible. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. WPBSA Head Office: World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, 75 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2NT, Victories in Sheffield for Hendry and Wallace, White and Doherty to Meet in World Seniors Final. 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. He intends to continue playing, and his tour card has been renewed through 2024. He wont even be there to present the trophy. 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. 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. Earlier in the tournament he'd beaten Marcus Campbell (10-4), Ali Carter (13-8), Stuart Bingham (13-4) and Judd Trump 17-11. O'Sullivan has always played down his pursuit of the record and maintained that stance in his post-match press conference. Three months later he successfully defended the World Championship title for the first time in his career. "You could still have business interests and still play, but he's chosen not to. 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). He claimed the number one ranking in 1990 and held it until White defeated him at the world championship in 1998. 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. 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. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. Hendry changed the way snooker was played, ushering in a more attacking era and. 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. 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. 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". pic.twitter.com/kkjnHt983m. 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,". "I can't really envisage it happening, there's just going to be more and more players knocking each other out.". While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2018 China Open - Elliot Slessor, 15. Stephen Hendry bestrode the sport in the 90s in an almost imperious way. He'd previously brushed aside Dott (6-3), Ding Junhui (6-2) and Jimmy White (6-1) as he continued to dazzle the crowds. 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. Considering all categories of tournament, including ranking, non-ranking and invitational, Steve Davis has won the most titles in snooker. 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. . The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. In 2020, Hendry accepted a tour card for the World Snooker Tour, indicating his return to professional play. 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. He has played a partial schedule in 2021 and 2022, never making it past the second round of a tournament. SUBSCRIBE for the biggest and best videos from the only official World Snooker channel on YouTubeWebsite: www.wst.tvTwitter: @WeAreWSTFacebook: /WorldSnooker. Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. Hendry was full-on attack, casting safety aside and always looking to open the balls and kill frames off in one visit. 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'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. That year he won the Dubai Classic, the Asian Open, the Scottish Masters, the UK Championship, and the Masters. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. 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. One of the most joyous scenes in all of British cinema is the opening to Trainspotting, which sees Renton and his pals careening down Princes Street and other parts of Edinburgh to Iggy Pops Lust for Life. However, one big difference was how he approached the game itself. This remarkable completion of professional snookers Triple Crown by the young Hendry moved him into the No. He managed it in six minutes and there was an amusing moment at the end when he removed the sponsor logo from his waistcoat! He might not have been the last snooker king of Scotland but was the man who inspired a nation, and who brought it respect. 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. At the moment it is about trying to get back to playing some good snooker.". 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. All these matches are part of the process, and getting me comfortable in arenas again. 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 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. 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. Selby clinched his fourth triumph this . Stephen Hendry has opted out of entering the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifiers only 12 months after returning following a nine-year absence. 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. On either side of this triumph, he appeared in two other Crucible finals. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2001 LG Cup - Drew Hendry, 6. Stephen Gordon Hendry was born on January 13, 1969, in South Queensferry, Scotland. His top break of 141 was the highest in a World Championship final, beating O'Sullivan's previous best mark of 139 in 2001. "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told BBC Radio 5 live. "John Higgins is on four, it's very hard to see anyone. For good measure Hendry also spent a recordbreaking nine years as world No 1, ahead of. Finishes Tournaments played: 3 Category Winner - Hendry and Robertson not impressed with how some pros train, Hendry: O'Sullivan is the only player that doesnt speak to anyone. Ronnie's reply"I'm never going to be good at getting out of snookers. 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. Ronnie OSullivan registered the 1000th century break of his extraordinary career to win the final of the 2019 Players Championship. Four years later, he turned professional. Eight years on from his initial retirement from the professional sport at the age of 43 at the end of the 2011/12 season . 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. Corrections? It takes too much time practicing getting out of snookers, I'd rather practice break building." Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2011 Paul Hunter Classic - Adam Duffy, 12. "Steve Davis: "Have you got any left? 1. At 53, it is surely impossible for Hendry to recapture former glories. At the end of the 198990 season, Hendry, at 21 years 106 days, topped Jimmy White 1812 to become the youngest world champion ever. 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. Welcome to my brand new YouTube channel, Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips. Read about our approach to external linking. I'm enjoying the process.". In 25 years time, maybe that record will fall too. 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. Mon Oct 15 2018 - 13:17. 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. "Its just a number at the end of the day, I dont get too caught up with it to be honest with you.". I wouldn't say it's the wrong decision - it's just down to the individual.". Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. OSullivan has already ticked off the other major records Hendry held including most Triple Crown wins and most ranking tournament titles. His youth made him a relatable figure to youngsters everywhere, but especially in Scotland. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. The only trophies Hendry has ever wanted to handle are the ones he has won. McManus would win the Masters itself in 1994. What TV channel is 2022 World Snooker Championship final? 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. #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. "I would say no, because there are so many great players competing against each other to win every tournament," he told BBC Sport. A series of records fell in his wake. 'It makes me so angry!' Ronnie O'Sullivan on whether he's just created the greatest sporting documentary of all time after giving it the fairytale ending. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. O'Sullivan set to pass another Hendry record O'Sullivan stands on 69 wins from 92 matches played between 1993 and 2021. 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. This is generally known as the start of the 'modern era'. 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. 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. 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.