There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. McManus would win the Masters itself in 1994. Stephen Hendry bestrode the sport in the 90s in an almost imperious way. 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. Tied at 42 pints apiece, Sinclair hit the deck and Werbeniuk went to the bar for a celebratory beer. Finishes Tournaments played: 3 Category Winner All these matches are part of the process, and getting me comfortable in arenas again. A series of records fell in his wake. Hendry had not even played the game before his parents bought him a half-sized table for Christmas in 1981. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. 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. - Hendry and Robertson not impressed with how some pros train, Hendry: O'Sullivan is the only player that doesnt speak to anyone. "John Higgins is on four, it's very hard to see anyone reaching seven," said Davis, a six-time world champion. The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2008 World Championship - Mark Williams, 10. Last week, he was thrashed 5-0 by Matthew Stevens in the German Masters qualifiers. 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. 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. 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. 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. Stephen Maguire became UK champion in 2004 and currently has six ranking titles to his name. 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. What TV channel is 2022 World Snooker Championship final? BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. 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. Higgins was also 19 and just like O'Sullivan 12 months earlier, came through a qualifying event ranked 51 in the world. believes Hendry's achievements mark him out as the stand-out player in the sport's history. Ronnie O'sullivan 147 Break vs. Mark Selby, Ronnie O'Sullivan v Mark Williams 147 break, Snooker Ronnie O'Sullivan - Ding Junhui 147 Break, Ronnie O'Sullivan 13th 147 Maximum vs Matthew Selt UK Championship 2014 {BBC 720p HD}, 147 Classics: Ronnie O'Sullivan in China | Snooker | Eurosport, 147 Classics: Ronnie O'Sullivan | Snooker | Eurosport. MORE:Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? "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 . His all-time leading tally of 20 Triple Crowns, which also consists of seven UK Championships and seven Masters, is now two more than what Hendry achieved in his legendary career, although the Scotsman condensed his 18 (7 worlds, 5 UKs & 6 Masters) into a formidable 10-year spell from 1989 to 1999. Tribute to Stephen Hendry. Hendry changed the way snooker was played, ushering in a more attacking era and establishing records that took decades to be matched. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1999 Grand Prix v Graeme Dott, 4. pic.twitter.com/kkjnHt983m. ", 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 reeled off six consecutive frames to establish a four-frame advantage at the interval and despite a brief rally by his opponent he wrapped up victory with a break of 78. "For me - and I've said it since 1990 - he's the greatest player ever to lift a snooker cue. pic.twitter.com/jWWr6mfcAd. Although he sat out of the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifying, Hendry stated that he intends to continue competing. This remarkable completion of professional snookers Triple Crown by the young Hendry moved him into the No. "Hendry: "Well he can't become the youngest world champion"Davis: "But he is playing like Benjamin Button." Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. O'Sullivan has always played down his pursuit of the record and maintained that stance in his post-match press conference. Hed sacrificed much to get to the top and had no regrets. We look back at his 28. However, he began competing again in 2021. Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has announced his retirement from snooker after a heavy 13-2 defeat by Stephen Maguire at the Crucible. "Obviously a name for the future. Even Neil Robertson is laughing by the end of the title-winning break. Photo: AP While Hendry is happy with his progress, he insisted that this was . To be fair, Hendry had done everything to lower expectations. It is unclear if Hendry will be offered another wild card to continue playing or if he will accept it. What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? Who Has Won The Most World Snooker Championships? 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1997 World Championship v Mick Price, 2. Three months later he successfully defended the World Championship title for the first time in his career. He represented his nation at the highest level of a hugely popular sport with distinction, winning 36 ranking tournaments including seven World Championships. 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. Once it happened, it was almost kind of a relief, said Hendry. 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. Any excuse to dig this uppic.twitter.com/hzoGnnsx9W, 1. Turning professional at 17, Hendry made a strong start in his first season, winning the 1986 Scottish Professional Championship. Stephen Hendry: "Are you saying another record of mine is going? 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. He turned professional the following year, and when he won the Grand Prix in 1987, he became the youngest player to win a tournament. He hadn't reached the final since his defeat to Mark Selby in 2014 and hadn't even gone beyond the quarter-finals in this time, while his first-round defeat to qualifier James Cahill 12 months earlier went down as one of the biggest shocks in World Championship history. Hendry jokes with ref, The seven-time world champion accepted a two-year wild card from former World Snooker Tour chairman Barry Hearn at the outset of the 2020/21 season and played his first match since the 2012 World Championship when he lost 4-1 to. The 1989-90 season was the beginning of Stephen Hendrys period of dominance, both in major tournaments and atop the world rankings. The result gained revenge from losing a deciding frame in that year's Charity Challenge final, in which Hendry scored an iconic maximum break. 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. 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. Ronnie OSullivan registered the 1000th century break of his extraordinary career to win the final of the 2019 Players Championship. Enjoy. He's going to be winning this a few times and the other guys better get their act together. Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? Stephen Hendry, (born January 13, 1969, Edinburgh, Scotland), Scottish snooker player who won a record seven world titles and dominated the game throughout the 1990s. 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. The circuit currently boasts only eight Scottish professionals. 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. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2003 World Championship - Marco Fu, 7. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. 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,". 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. When the 96/97 season began, there were nine Scots ranked inside the top 64 and plenty more coming up on the rails. What Are The Differences Between Snooker And Billiards? 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. Steve Davis says he cannot imagine anyone bettering Stephen Hendry's tally of seven World Championship titles. 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. 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. Discovery company. "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told. "I will try to keep expectations lowthe animal that I am, if I start to get form, then the expectations will rise. Maybe not that night, because there's still a little bit of sadness that he equalled my record. Perhaps it had to if he was to avoid serious burnout. This maximum in an exhibition against Reanne Evans last year is also well worth a watch. What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2007 Northern Ireland Trophy - Ali Carter, 8. Final report: Ronnie O'Sullivan 18-8 Kyren Wilson, CLICK HERE FOR EVERY 147 BREAK IN SNOOKER HISTORY, WATCH ALL THE CRUCIBLE MAXIMUM BREAKS IN HISTOR, Richard Mann's story of the snooker season, Sporting Life exclusive: Neil Robertson interview, Nick Metcalfe on a decade of World Championship finals, World Championship memories: White always a People's Champion, World Championship memories: O'Sullivan's finest hour, World Championship memories: Higgins prevails but Trump grows, World Championship memories: Joe Johnson: The biggest shock, World Championship memories: 1984 World Championship stands out, World Championship: 6 (2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020), UK Championship: 7* (1993, 1997, 2001, 2007, 2014, 2017, 2018), Masters: 7* (1995, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017), Century breaks: 1,061* (179 at Crucible*). I can't explain it. He has the record for most century breaks during a tournament, scoring 16 centuries during the 2002 World Snooker Championship. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is Joe Davis, who won 15 consecutive titles from 1927 to 1946. "One thing you never stop missing as a sportsman is the buzz you get from a crowd. It was the eighth maximum of his career and he followed it up by thrashing Stephen Maguire 10-2 for his fourth UK title. 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. 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. 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'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. He had pushed his career earnings past 6.2 million (about $10 million) and by November had reclaimed his number one ranking. In his Masters quarter-final against Marco Fu, Ronnie O'Sullivan fired in his 776th career century, taking him one . Once again, Hendry was setting records, with an unprecedented seventh world title. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. Welcome to my brand new YouTube channel, Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips. 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 O'Sullivan roof raising moment part 6567676: The way he scores the 100th point of his 1000th century. Eight years on from his initial retirement from the professional sport at the age of 43 at the end of the 2011/12 season . "I can't really envisage it happening, there's just going to be more and more players knocking each other out.". The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. 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. At the moment it is about trying to get back to playing some good snooker.". 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. 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 competed in the World Amateur Championship that year, setting a record for being the youngest entrant ever.. At 18, he won his first ranking title, the 1987 Grand Prix. "I can't see Stephen changing his mind; once he decides on something, that's it. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. In 25 years time, maybe that record will fall too. 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. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. Earlier in the tournament he'd beaten Marcus Campbell (10-4), Ali Carter (13-8), Stuart Bingham (13-4) and Judd Trump 17-11. Fellow Glaswegian Anthony McGill has won two and Edinburghs Chris Small, forced to retire in 2005 due to a chronic back condition, one. He claimed the number one ranking in 1990 and held it until White defeated him at the world championship in 1998. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2018 China Open - Elliot Slessor, 15. The Rocket dominated from the start against Neil Robertson, winning 10-4, and finished in style by reaching a career milestone which may never be passed. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1999 Welsh Open v James Wattana, 3. Hendry had observed Steve Davis aloofness, the way he set himself apart from his rivals. O'Sullivan's fifth UK Championship is another iconic moment in his career after he followed up the 13th 147 maximum break of his career against Matthew Selt in the last 16 before edging out rising star Judd Trump 10-9 in a truly gripping final that he'd led 9-4. "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. 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. 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. O'Sullivan may well still be a solitary world title shy of Hendry's historic mark of seven after his 18-8 victory over Kyren Wilson drew him level with Steve Davis and Ray Reardon, but few can possibly dispute the Rocket's unofficial status as the greatest snooker player of all time. To be the best was all he had ever wanted. The following season, he successfully defended that title and won the World Doubles Championship with partner Mike Hallett. 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. '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. "Its just a number at the end of the day, I dont get too caught up with it to be honest with you.". Considering all categories of tournament, including ranking, non-ranking and invitational, Steve Davis has won the most titles in snooker. This is a shame as the audience at the Meadowbank Centre would surely love to salute him. He has played only a handful of events and found victories hard to come by. Stephen Gordon Hendry was born on January 13, 1969, in South Queensferry, Scotland. "But records are there to be broken. 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. 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. He practised with military discipline, watched over by his no-nonsense manager, Ian Doyle, and the rewards came quickly. In terms of weeks spent as world number one, as of April 18, 2022, Stephen Hendry tops the list.