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. 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. O'Sullivan has always played down his pursuit of the record and maintained that stance in his post-match press conference. - Stunning clearance after big White miss, You have to write off the first year OSullivan on Hendry comeback, 'Youve got a long night ahead!' 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. Never, ever a dull moment watching Ronnie.pic.twitter.com/wIryNNsPha, Trying to get Ronnie O'Sullivan enthused about the excitement and romance of his own storylines is a tough gig. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2003 World Championship - Marco Fu, 7. 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. Stephen Hendry has opted out of entering the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifiers only 12 months after returning following a nine-year absence. Then a week or so afterwards, I was like, OK, he's got the mantle now to live up to. . Hendrys streak cooled in the 2000s, but he remained competitive, even reclaiming his No. 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. What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? 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. Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. Please subscribe as we've got loads of amazing snooker content coming up over the next few months. 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*). 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. Once he decided he'd be the greatest player in the world, he achieved that.". I'm sure you're as excited watching at home as we are here." 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. However, one big difference was how he approached the game itself. Bio. At the end of the 198990 season, Hendry, at 21 years 106 days, topped Jimmy White 1812 to become the youngest world champion ever. This maximum in an exhibition against Reanne Evans last year is also well worth a watch. At the moment it is about trying to get back to playing some good snooker.". After the 1999 world championship, Hendrys fortunes faded once more. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. All rights reserved. 1996: Fifth consecutive world title comes with final victory over Peter Ebdon. It capped a tumultuous tournament for O'Sullivan, who had threatened to launch a breakaway tour then required a final-frame decider to edge past veteran Ken Doherty in round two. "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told BBC Radio 5 live. 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. 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. 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. 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. Maybe not that night, because there's still a little bit of sadness that he equalled my record. 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. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. This is generally known as the start of the 'modern era'. 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. It is unclear if Hendry will be offered another wild card to continue playing or if he will accept it. The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. 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. His tour card was subsequently renewed for another two seasons.. "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 . The circuit currently boasts only eight Scottish professionals. On either side of this triumph, he appeared in two other Crucible finals. Steve Davis says he cannot imagine anyone bettering Stephen Hendry's tally of seven World Championship titles. Welcome to my brand new YouTube channel, Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips. Discovery company. Ronnie O'Sullivan 775th Century with superb fluke! After three semi-final defeats in the 1990s and a shock 10-9 defeat to David Gray in round one of the Millennium edition, O'Sullivan reached his first Crucible final by overcoming Andy Hicks (10-2), Dave Harold (13-6), Peter Ebdon (13-6) and Joe Swail (17-11) before an absorbing 18-14 victory over 1998 champion John Higgins. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. He practised with military discipline, watched over by his no-nonsense manager, Ian Doyle, and the rewards came quickly. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. 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%. To be fair, Hendry had done everything to lower expectations. 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. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. '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. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Hendrys seven world titles all came during his dominant spell in the 1990s, which also included eight consecutive seasons as world No. The record was previously set by Stephen Hendry back in 1999. O'Sullivan had finished runner-up in the Masters three times since his maiden title in this tournament in 1995 - to Hendry (1996), Steve Davis (1997) and Paul Hunter (2004) - but he'd get his hands on the new crystal triangle trophy with a 10-3 demolition job of John Higgins. For good measure Hendry also spent a recordbreaking nine years as world No 1, ahead of. 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. 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. Tribute to Stephen Hendry. Just 16 when he joined the circuit, he was completely driven from the start. In 2020, Hendry accepted a tour card for the World Snooker Tour, indicating his return to professional play. He won 12 frames in a row against the Scotsman, who was beaten with a session to spare, and didn't give Ali Carter much of a look in either, triumphing 18-8. 1 spot in the world rankings for the first time. But why is that? Ronnie's reply"I'm never going to be good at getting out of snookers. At the first World Team Cup in 1979, there was not even a Scottish team. "John Higgins is on four, it's very hard to see anyone reaching seven," said Davis, a six-time world champion. It earned him 75 of the 11million+ he's now won 30 years later. There are some young prospects in Scotland, but not in the numbers of 30 years ago. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. 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. Article bookmarked. "John Higgins is on four, it's very hard to see anyone. 20 Scots have so far competed in the Crucible stage of the World Championship. He also had lost in the final in 1997, snapping a string of 30 straight wins in that event. He managed it in six minutes and there was an amusing moment at the end when he removed the sponsor logo from his waistcoat! Earlier in the tournament he'd beaten Marcus Campbell (10-4), Ali Carter (13-8), Stuart Bingham (13-4) and Judd Trump 17-11. His 16 centuries in the 2002 world championship also set a record. Prodigy then, legend now. Comments. 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. 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. On that occasion he was thrashed 5-1 by Dennis Taylor in the wildcard round but this was a completely different story, overcoming John Parrott, Terry Griffiths and Peter Ebdon prior to a 9-3 triumph over fellow teenage sensation John Higgins.