1 ranking for a period in 2005. 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. In 2020, Hendry was offered an invitational wildcard by World Snooker Tour, making him eligible to compete again on the circuit. From 1992 until his defeat by Ken Doherty in the 1997 World Championship final, he won 29 consecutive matches at the Crucible, a modern-era record. That year he won the Dubai Classic, the Asian Open, the Scottish Masters, the UK Championship, and the Masters. 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. Corrections? That year he also won the Australian Masters and successfully defended his Scottish Professional Championship and World Doubles Championship 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. 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. The record was previously set by Stephen Hendry back in 1999. While many had given the enigmatic Rocket GOAT status on talent grounds long before he'd surpassed Stephen Hendry's records for most ranking titles (36) and Triple Crowns (18) due to the . This is a shame as the audience at the Meadowbank Centre would surely love to salute him. Later Career That's what a champion does, they don't play their best, they get to the final, and they still nearly win it. Discovery company. "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. 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. What TV channel is 2022 World Snooker Championship final? pic.twitter.com/kkjnHt983m. 1996: Fifth consecutive world title comes with final victory over Peter Ebdon. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. "Then you let the snooker gods decide what they're going to decide, and these 17 days they were on my side. Omissions? He admired and coveted Daviss success and adopted his mindset. This is generally known as the start of the 'modern era'. Career Total Statistics Tournament Record Most Frequent Opponents Rounds Reached Century Frequency Centuries per Season Graph Ranking History Prize Money History. Ronnie O'Sullivan claimed a record-breaking seventh UK Championship title with a 10-6 victory over Mark Allen at the York Barbican. The following season, he successfully defended that title and won the World Doubles Championship with partner Mike Hallett. He had pushed his career earnings past 6.2 million (about $10 million) and by November had reclaimed his number one ranking. Mark Selby has been playing around 280 minutes to lead 5-4. 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. 20 Scots have so far competed in the Crucible stage of the World Championship. Who Has Won The Most World Snooker Championships? 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. 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. #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. He said: "I think it meant more to him than it does to me, to have seven world titles. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. All these matches are part of the process, and getting me comfortable in arenas again. Eight years on from his initial retirement from the professional sport at the age of 43 at the end of the 2011/12 season . 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! Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. Turning professional at 17, Hendry made a strong start in his first season, winning the 1986 Scottish Professional Championship. 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. He also talks about whether it was extra motivation pic.twitter.com/n58nxPeGaK. "I will try to keep expectations lowthe animal that I am, if I start to get form, then the expectations will rise. And just as the 2017 sequel to Trainspotting doesnt alter the majesty of the original, Hendrys stuttering comeback doesnt change any of that. Ronnie OSullivan registered the 1000th century break of his extraordinary career to win the final of the 2019 Players Championship. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2003 World Championship - Marco Fu, 7. After the 1999 world championship, Hendrys fortunes faded once more. "For me - and I've said it since 1990 - he's the greatest player ever to lift a snooker cue. "But records are there to be broken. SUBSCRIBE for the biggest and best videos from the only official World Snooker channel on YouTubeWebsite: www.wst.tvTwitter: @WeAreWSTFacebook: /WorldSnooker. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is Joe Davis, who won 15 consecutive titles from 1927 to 1946. 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. He's going to be winning this a few times and the other guys better get their act together. 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. 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. 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. 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. As if to underline how disappointing the comeback has been, the man himself did not enter the event. What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has announced his retirement from snooker after a heavy 13-2 defeat by Stephen Maguire at the Crucible. The 43-year-old, who . 'One from the archives' - Hendry makes fantastic brown to win frame, 'That is the Hendry we remember well!' Three months later he successfully defended the World Championship title for the first time in his career. 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*). His 16 centuries in the 2002 world championship also set a record. We look back at his 28 years of astonishing milestones, achievements statistics, maximum breaks, and fan-pleasing antics. Fast forward to the 2012 World Championship, which he lost to Stephen Maguire, after which he announced his retirement. 2005: Wins his 36th and most recent ranking title at the Malta Cup. At the first World Team Cup in 1979, there was not even a Scottish team. Although he sat out of the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifying, Hendry stated that he intends to continue competing. Last week, he was thrashed 5-0 by Matthew Stevens in the German Masters qualifiers. 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. Hendry had observed Steve Davis aloofness, the way he set himself apart from his rivals. Considering all categories of tournament, including ranking, non-ranking and invitational, Steve Davis has won the most titles in snooker. Ronnie O'Sullivan roof raising moment part 6567676: The way he scores the 100th point of his 1000th century. The Rocket had earlier joked with BBC's presenter Hazel Irvine during the trophy ceremony that Hendry can share the record with him for another year. 1995: Beats Nigel Bond in the World Championship final. For good measure Hendry also spent a recordbreaking nine years as world No 1, ahead of. "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 was full-on attack, casting safety aside and always looking to open the balls and kill frames off in one visit. 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. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. During this period in the early 1990s, a wave of Scottish talent flooded the professional ranks. The groan of appreciation from Stephen Hendry accompanies it perfectly. 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. Maybe not that night, because there's still a little bit of sadness that he equalled my record. 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!!! Fellow Glaswegian Anthony McGill has won two and Edinburghs Chris Small, forced to retire in 2005 due to a chronic back condition, one. At the moment it is about trying to get back to playing some good snooker.". 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. His tour card was subsequently renewed for another two seasons.. 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. 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. Remarkably, just like against Selby, this would be a match-winning 147 as he beat Mark Williams 13-7 in round two before seeing off Liang Wenbo (13-7) and Stephen Hendry (17-6) to reach the final. 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. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. 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. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. OSullivan beat Judd Trump to win his seventh World Championship, I couldnt care less what Stephen Hendry or anyone else says Allen on slow-play critics, Why theres no hiding place for anyone at the Shoot Out, he was fined several times in the last 12 months. His youth made him a relatable figure to youngsters everywhere, but especially in Scotland. 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 and Robertson not impressed with how some pros train, Hendry: O'Sullivan is the only player that doesnt speak to anyone. At 20, he captured the Masters and UK Championship, and at 21 was crowned the youngest ever world champion. He claimed the number one ranking in 1990 and held it until White defeated him at the world championship in 1998. pic.twitter.com/jWWr6mfcAd. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. 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. At 53, it is surely impossible for Hendry to recapture former glories. A. Career. @ronnieo147 pic.twitter.com/bCUnSqT2Z0. In 25 years time, maybe that record will fall too. He had 24 hours to decide whether to take it and he could not resist. Who set these standards? 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. Please subscribe as we've got loads of amazing snooker content coming up over the next few months. 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. 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 - 2007 UK Championship - Mark Selby, 9. When the 96/97 season began, there were nine Scots ranked inside the top 64 and plenty more coming up on the rails. 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. 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. 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. 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. Just 16 when he joined the circuit, he was completely driven from the start. 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. "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. 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 had not yet turned 18 but he'd already earned his nickname 'The Rocket' after winning a best-of-nine frame encounter in a record-breaking 43 minutes during his debut professional season (1992-93), in which he'd also claimed a maiden non-ranking title and qualified for his first World Championship, where he lost 10-7 to Alan McManus. Hendry himself did not rule out someone overtaking his record eventually, even if the odds are against it. He might not have been the last snooker king of Scotland but was the man who inspired a nation, and who brought it respect. Well worth a watch even for Ronnie fans! Ronnie OSullivan is the greatest snooker player of all time. "Obviously a name for the future. 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. Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies, Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? 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. 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 terms of weeks spent as world number one, as of April 18, 2022, Stephen Hendry tops the list. It earned him 75 of the 11million+ he's now won 30 years later. Yes, that's yet another record and four clear of Hendry. Once he decided he'd be the greatest player in the world, he achieved that.". Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is. 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.. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2018 English Open - Allan Taylor. 1 spot in the world rankings for the first time. Hendry has the longest unbeaten streak in ranking tournament play, winning 36 consecutive matches in 1990 and 1991. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. In recognition of his excellence in the sport, Hendry was knighted, receiving a MBE recognition in 1994. The scene was vibrant. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. All 12 of the Crucible 147 breaks in multiscreen ranked by speed.Ronnie O'Sullivan's unbreakable record is only challenged by his second maximum while @nr147 is the new entry at number eight. He turned professional the following year, and when he won the Grand Prix in 1987, he became the youngest player to win a tournament. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. 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. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan 2014 UK Championship - Matthew Selt, 14. Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? 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. 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. Updates? After winning his first World Championship in 1990, he became the youngest player ever to lift the title at 21. The age of professionalism in Scottish snooker came courtesy of a shy teenager who possessed a laser-like focus rarely witnessed before or since. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. He also had lost in the final in 1997, snapping a string of 30 straight wins in that event. What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? Stephen Hendry: "Are you saying another record of mine is going? MORE:Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Wishaws John Higgins was taken with one of his brothers to a snooker club as a boy by their father, who could have a social drink with his friends while his sons were happily occupied. 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. Photo: AP While Hendry is happy with his progress, he insisted that this was . Some were more successful than others but they became regular faces on the circuit. Perhaps it had to if he was to avoid serious burnout. Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told BBC Radio 5 live. 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. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1997 World Championship v Mick Price, 2. Stephen Hendry bestrode the sport in the 90s in an almost imperious way. He intends to continue playing, and his tour card has been renewed through 2024. 'Feels amazing' Higgins ends 13-month title drought by retaining Championship League crown, Watch Robertson produce magic as Trump leads final Championship League group. But why is that? O'Sullivan set up another instalment of his budding rivalry with Mark Selby after beating Joe Perry (6-5), Ali Carter (6-2) and Stephen Maguire (6-1) and he'd edge another titanic tussle between the pair 10-8 to claim his fourth Masters title. 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. 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. 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. Welcome to my brand new YouTube channel, Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips. - Stunning clearance after big White miss, You have to write off the first year OSullivan on Hendry comeback, 'Youve got a long night ahead!' Tai Chengzhe/Visual China Group via Getty Images. His five match wins during this edition took him to 74 Crucible victories, four more than one of other Hendrys few remaining records. At 18, he won his first ranking title, the 1987 Grand Prix. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. O'Sullivan equalled the record of Stephen Hendry by winning his seventh World Championship . The 1989-90 season was the beginning of Stephen Hendrys period of dominance, both in major tournaments and atop the world rankings.