Higgins was also 19 and just like O'Sullivan 12 months earlier, came through a qualifying event ranked 51 in the world. I just try to enjoy the game, compete, try and enjoy what I do, and work hard at my game. "For me - and I've said it since 1990 - he's the greatest player ever to lift a snooker cue. Snooker player Stephen Hendry's professional Match results, Frame scores, centuries, prize money, statistics from season 2022-2023 . Article bookmarked. However, he began competing again in 2021. OSullivan has already ticked off the other major records Hendry held including most Triple Crown wins and most ranking tournament titles. He'd previously brushed aside Dott (6-3), Ding Junhui (6-2) and Jimmy White (6-1) as he continued to dazzle the crowds. 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%. 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. 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. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Four months later he'd bring a packed house to their feet yet again with his third maximum break of the season and his third at the Crucible. All these matches are part of the process, and getting me comfortable in arenas again. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2000 Scottish Open v Quinten Hann, 5. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. Maybe not that night, because there's still a little bit of sadness that he equalled my record. What TV channel is 2022 World Snooker Championship final? Top 5 Ranked Men's Snooker Players Of All Time. "One thing you never stop missing as a sportsman is the buzz you get from a crowd. '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.". 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. 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. "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 . 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. 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. "For me - and I've said it since 1990 - he's the greatest player ever to lift a snooker cue. He has the record for most century breaks during a tournament, scoring 16 centuries during the 2002 World Snooker Championship. 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. Hendry has always known that sole ownership of the sports most prestigious record was on borrowed time and recently insisted it would be an honour to share it with the player who stunned him as a 17-year-old in the 1993 UK Championship final. Ronnie O'Sullivan 775th Century with superb fluke! On either side of this triumph, he appeared in two other Crucible finals. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2008 World Championship - Mark Williams, 10. Interviews over a few. His 16 centuries in the 2002 world championship also set a record. 1 spot in the world rankings for the first time. Hendry holds the record for the most seasons as the no.1 player; he was ranked no.1 for nine seasons. Ronnie OSullivan is the greatest snooker player of all time. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2011 Paul Hunter Classic - Adam Duffy, 12. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. 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. 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. 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. Higgins, 47, continues to have a successful career at the top level with 31 ranking event victories to his name, including four world titles. pic.twitter.com/jWWr6mfcAd. 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!!! He competed in the World Amateur Championship that year, setting a record for being the youngest entrant ever.. 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. pic.twitter.com/K1gRIJLnz9, Mark Selby thought Ronnie O'Sullivan's cavalier approach to getting out of his snookers was disrespectful. 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. But in 2014,. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. He has played only a handful of events and found victories hard to come by. We share it, its alright to share that, Hendrys a legend of the game, an absolute legend of the game. 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. As the Scottish Open begins in Edinburgh, its worth remembering that this had not always been the case. "John Higgins is on four, it's very hard to see anyone reaching seven," said Davis, a six-time world champion. Following the 1996 world championship, Hendrys play slipped. 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. All rights reserved. Hendry had not even played the game before his parents bought him a half-sized table for Christmas in 1981. He managed it in six minutes and there was an amusing moment at the end when he removed the sponsor logo from his waistcoat! Stephen Hendry proceeded to defend his title for the following four years. It was almost like that. History repeated itself three years on from his maiden world title in the sense he'd suffered a first-round exit 12 months earlier, this time against Marco Fu despite firing in a 147 break. 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". 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. 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. 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. Growing up, he also spent time living in Edinburgh and Fife. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Hendry has the longest unbeaten streak in ranking tournament play, winning 36 consecutive matches in 1990 and 1991. 'One from the archives' - Hendry makes fantastic brown to win frame, 'That is the Hendry we remember well!' Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. To qualify for that would be incredible. 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. . Hendrys streak cooled in the 2000s, but he remained competitive, even reclaiming his No. He represented his nation at the highest level of a hugely popular sport with distinction, winning 36 ranking tournaments including seven World Championships. The groan of appreciation from Stephen Hendry accompanies it perfectly. "Then you let the snooker gods decide what they're going to decide, and these 17 days they were on my side. Discovery company. Who Has Won The Most World Snooker Championships? Just 16 when he joined the circuit, he was completely driven from the start. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. He practised with military discipline, watched over by his no-nonsense manager, Ian Doyle, and the rewards came quickly. All rights reserved. Finishes Tournaments played: 3 Category Winner ", 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 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). 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. 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. 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. 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. His 16 centuries in the 2002 world championship also set a record. "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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2003 World Championship - Marco Fu, 7. Stephen Hendry has opted out of entering the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifiers only 12 months after returning following a nine-year absence. It was the eighth maximum of his career and he followed it up by thrashing Stephen Maguire 10-2 for his fourth UK title. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. 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's reply"I'm never going to be good at getting out of snookers. "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told BBC Radio 5 live. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2007 UK Championship - Mark Selby, 9. O'Sullivan has always played down his pursuit of the record and maintained that stance in his post-match press conference. pic.twitter.com/kkjnHt983m. 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. Bio. At 53, it is surely impossible for Hendry to recapture former glories. 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. "Hendry: "Well he can't become the youngest world champion"Davis: "But he is playing like Benjamin Button." 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. "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. 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. 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. Who set these standards? 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. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is. Rocket Ronnie's 30 years at Crucible O'Sullivan set to pass another Hendry record, 'Crucible return is ultimate goal' Hendry ready to continue playing, Age winning first ranking title: 18 (1987 Grand Prix), Age winning first world title: 21 (1990 World Championship), Age winning last ranking title: 36 (2005 Malta Cup). "John Higgins is on four, it's very hard to see anyone. 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. In recognition of his excellence in the sport, Hendry was knighted, receiving a MBE recognition in 1994. 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. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. Enjoy. Eight years on from his initial retirement from the professional sport at the age of 43 at the end of the 2011/12 season . The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. When the 96/97 season began, there were nine Scots ranked inside the top 64 and plenty more coming up on the rails. Later Career 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. We look back at his 28. In 2020, Hendry was offered an invitational wildcard by World Snooker Tour, making him eligible to compete again on the circuit. 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. Career Total Statistics Tournament Record Most Frequent Opponents Rounds Reached Century Frequency Centuries per Season Graph Ranking History Prize Money History. Updates? Discovery company. 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. 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. . Steve Davis says he cannot imagine anyone bettering Stephen Hendry's tally of seven World Championship titles. 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 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. 2014 UK Championship Final: Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Judd Trump DECIDER! Earlier in the tournament he'd beaten Marcus Campbell (10-4), Ali Carter (13-8), Stuart Bingham (13-4) and Judd Trump 17-11. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told. I can't explain it. 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. Then a week or so afterwards, I was like, OK, he's got the mantle now to live up to. At 20, he captured the Masters and UK Championship, and at 21 was crowned the youngest ever world champion. 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. Discovery company. Indeed OSullivans time span of winning major titles which now stands at 29 years is testament to the astounding longevity of his greatness compared to anyone whos ever picked up a cue, Hendry included.
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