The circuit currently boasts only eight Scottish professionals. What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? 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. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. 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. pic.twitter.com/K1gRIJLnz9, Mark Selby thought Ronnie O'Sullivan's cavalier approach to getting out of his snookers was disrespectful. 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. Tuesday 03 May 2022 09:19. We look back at his 28. Ronnie O'Sullivan 775th Century with superb fluke! What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? The 1989-90 season was the beginning of Stephen Hendrys period of dominance, both in major tournaments and atop the world rankings. Eight months on from cementing his status as a sporting superstar for life with his five minute and eight second maximum at the Crucible, O'Sullivan picked up his second UK crown after claiming a 9-6 victory over Hendry in the final, ending the Scotsman's three-year grip on the trophy in the process. During this period in the early 1990s, a wave of Scottish talent flooded the professional ranks. Bio. Well worth a watch even for Ronnie fans! 1995: Beats Nigel Bond in the World Championship final. All these matches are part of the process, and getting me comfortable in arenas again. Growing up, he also spent time living in Edinburgh and Fife. Why Do Snooker Players Use Their Chins When Shooting. 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. 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. This maximum in an exhibition against Reanne Evans last year is also well worth a watch. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is. At 19 years and 69 days, O'Sullivan became the youngest Masters champion and that record stands today. In recognition of his excellence in the sport, Hendry was knighted, receiving a MBE recognition in 1994. 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. "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1999 Grand Prix v Graeme Dott, 4. The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. "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 won five consecutive Masters titles between 1989 and 1993 and five consecutive world titles between 1992 and 1996, both records in the modern era. 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. Stephen Hendry | Sport | The Guardian Finishes Tournaments played: 3 Category Winner - Stunning clearance after big White miss, You have to write off the first year OSullivan on Hendry comeback, 'Youve got a long night ahead!' He intends to continue playing, and his tour card has been renewed through 2024. Interviews over a few. O'Sullivan stands on 69 wins from 92 matches played between 1993 and 2021. Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies, Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. I can't explain it. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. Ronnie's reply"I'm never going to be good at getting out of snookers. 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. I just try to enjoy the game, compete, try and enjoy what I do, and work hard at my game. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire . All rights reserved. Stephen Gordon Hendry was born on January 13, 1969, in South Queensferry, Scotland. 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. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2003 World Championship - Marco Fu, 7. It was the eighth maximum of his career and he followed it up by thrashing Stephen Maguire 10-2 for his fourth UK title. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2008 World Championship - Mark Williams, 10. His five match wins during this edition took him to 74 Crucible victories, four more than one of other Hendrys few remaining records. It was almost like that. Turning professional at 17, Hendry made a strong start in his first season, winning the 1986 Scottish Professional Championship. 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. Article bookmarked. 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. 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. 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. The age of professionalism in Scottish snooker came courtesy of a shy teenager who possessed a laser-like focus rarely witnessed before or since. The Rocket not only equalled Steve Davis' record of six UK titles by defeating Shaun Murphy 10-5 but he also moved level with Stephen Hendry on 18 Triple Crown triumphs. Stephen Hendry - Season 2022-2023 - Professional Results 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. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2018 English Open - Allan Taylor. He hadn't been at his fluent best earlier in the tournament but managed three century breaks and 10 above 50 when the trophy was on the line. 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. 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. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? 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. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. Prodigy then, legend now. It takes too much time practicing getting out of snookers, I'd rather practice break building." 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. What TV channel is 2022 World Snooker Championship final? At 20, he captured the Masters and UK Championship, and at 21 was crowned the youngest ever world champion. The record was previously set by Stephen Hendry back in 1999. Please subscribe as we've got loads of amazing snooker content coming up over the next few months. 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. At the age of 17 years and 358 days he became the youngest ever winner of a ranking event and that record still stands. It earned him 75 of the 11million+ he's now won 30 years later. Discovery company. He admired and coveted Daviss success and adopted his mindset. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible. It's was the heaviest scoreline since the event's final became best of 19 frames back in 1993 and it's only been matched once since when Stephen Maguire thrashed David Gray in 2004. Walter Donaldson became the world champion in the post-war era, but for a long time, Scotland lagged behind the other UK nations. In terms of weeks spent as world number one, as of April 18, 2022, Stephen Hendry tops the list. McManus would win the Masters itself in 1994. Hendry says he had an unusual feeling when. 1 ranking for a period in 2005. His 16 centuries in the 2002 world championship also set a record. We share it, its alright to share that, Hendrys a legend of the game, an absolute legend of the game. Stephen Hendry holds the record for the youngest ever to win the World Snooker Championship, as he won the 1990 tournament at 21 years and 106 days. Copyright 2017-2023 Rookie Road Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Comments. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. 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. pic.twitter.com/kkjnHt983m. 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. His top break of 141 was the highest in a World Championship final, beating O'Sullivan's previous best mark of 139 in 2001. 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. Who set these standards? The year was 1996. John Higgins has won four and is good enough to win another four; it is hard to say.". 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. I'm sure you're as excited watching at home as we are here." 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. Stephen Hendry retires after World Snooker Championship defeat 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 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.. 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. ", 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). https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stephen-Hendry, Electric Scotland - Biography of Stephen Hendry. "John Higgins is on four, it's very hard to see anyone reaching seven," said Davis, a six-time world champion. 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%. pic.twitter.com/jWWr6mfcAd. Stephen Hendry - Wikipedia pic.twitter.com/PoE9RBEcNh. Rocket's 30 years at Crucible - Ronnie O'Sullivan set to pass another Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. Career Total Statistics Tournament Record Most Frequent Opponents Rounds Reached Century Frequency Centuries per Season Graph Ranking History Prize Money History. As the Scottish Open begins in Edinburgh, its worth remembering that this had not always been the case. Higgins, 47, continues to have a successful career at the top level with 31 ranking event victories to his name, including four world titles. He wont even be there to present the trophy. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. 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. Stephen Hendry says Hong Kong is his favourite city and he hopes for a Ronnie O'Sullivan's first TV appearance aged just 14 in 1990, making a break of 75. 1999: Wins his record seventh world title, seeing off Mark Williams in the final. 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. 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. . To be the best was all he had ever wanted. 2014 UK Championship Final: Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Judd Trump DECIDER! 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. 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*). 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. Although Stephen Hendry officially retired following the 2012 World Snooker Championship, he announced he would be returning to the World Snooker Tour in 2020.Hendry has competed in a partial schedule during 2021 and 2022. 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. Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. O'Sullivan has always played down his pursuit of the record and maintained that stance in his post-match press conference. Although he sat out of the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifying, Hendry stated that he intends to continue competing. Mon Oct 15 2018 - 13:17. The deadline to enter the sport's blue-chip event was Monday at lunchtime, but the Scotsman has opted against playing as he continues his work as a TV pundit away from the table with the 46th World Championship at the Crucible staged between 16 April-2 May LIVE on Eurosport. He practised with military discipline, watched over by his no-nonsense manager, Ian Doyle, and the rewards came quickly. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Stephen Hendry 'didn't want' Ronnie O'Sullivan to equal world title To qualify for that would be incredible. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. Unseen footage: OSullivan breaks down in tears as seventh world title sinks in, 'I hated it' - O'Sullivan on why he did not enjoy winning seventh world title. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1999 Welsh Open v James Wattana, 3. In 2020, Hendry accepted a tour card for the World Snooker Tour, indicating his return to professional play. He had 24 hours to decide whether to take it and he could not resist. 2005: Wins his 36th and most recent ranking title at the Malta Cup. 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. "One thing you never stop missing as a sportsman is the buzz you get from a crowd. 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,". Ronnie O'Sullivan's sixth World Championship breaks the ranking title Stephen Hendry has opted out of entering the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifiers only 12 months after returning following a nine-year absence. At the moment it is about trying to get back to playing some good snooker.". "Steve Davis: "Have you got any left? It almost took the pressure off me kind of thing, not that I'm under pressure to do anything. 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. Eight years on from his initial retirement from the professional sport at the age of 43 at the end of the 2011/12 season, Hendry accepted an Invitational Tour Card from World Snooker Tour to pave the way for an incredible comeback to the sport that he once dominated. 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. 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. To be fair, Hendry had done everything to lower expectations. 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. Earlier in the tournament he'd beaten Marcus Campbell (10-4), Ali Carter (13-8), Stuart Bingham (13-4) and Judd Trump 17-11. 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. In recognition of his excellence in the sport, Hendry was knighted, receiving a MBE recognition in 1994. Rocket's 30 years at Crucible - Ronnie O'Sullivan set to pass another Stephen Hendry record at 46th World Championship Ronnie O'Sullivan holds almost all of the key records in snooker, but. How Stephen Hendry changed the way snooker was played and inspired a '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. Hendry has the longest unbeaten streak in ranking tournament play, winning 36 consecutive matches in 1990 and 1991. 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. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. Stephen Hendry's Record Breaking Century | 1994 UK Championship Final Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2011 Paul Hunter Classic - Adam Duffy, 12. That year he won the Dubai Classic, the Asian Open, the Scottish Masters, the UK Championship, and the Masters. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2001 LG Cup - Drew Hendry, 6. Higgins was also 19 and just like O'Sullivan 12 months earlier, came through a qualifying event ranked 51 in the world. Stephen Hendry with wife Mandy and son Blaine after beating Mark Williams 18-11 to win a record seventh world title. 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 had not even played the game before his parents bought him a half-sized table for Christmas in 1981. 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. "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told BBC Radio 5 live. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The seventh, though, was like a dam breaking. Its now undisputed, if it wasnt already. He represented his nation at the highest level of a hugely popular sport with distinction, winning 36 ranking tournaments including seven World Championships. Last updated on 2 May 20122 May 2012.From the section Snooker. 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. "I would say no, because there are so many great players competing against each other to win every tournament," he told BBC Sport. There are some young prospects in Scotland, but not in the numbers of 30 years ago. Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? Hendry, O Corrections? 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. Ronnie OSullivan is the greatest snooker player of all time. 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. 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. Selby clinched his fourth triumph this . 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. O'Sullivan equalled the record of Stephen Hendry by winning his seventh World Championship . 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. 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.