Answer (1 of 8): Let's compare the two players' rolls of honour at this point in time. The Magnificent Seven is complete. OSullivans good friend Jimmy White admits he too was worried about him: That for me was totally bizarre and I actually got concerned for OSullivan because where does he go from there? However, the Scot never returned to the table as Ronnie shook his hand, and referee Jan Verhaas and left the arena, with Hendry being given the win via concession. OSullivan, who was nowhere near his brilliant best, played a poor positional shot while potting the black, then missed a red, spraying balls around the table to give Hendry an excellent chance to extend his lead. The 47-year-old equalled Stephen Hendry's record. Or that he effortlessly juggles the ball on his knees while jogging before upping the ante by then bouncing it repeatedly off alternate shoulders. Its almost a chapter in his life that he needed to have and get out of his way., MORE : Ronnie OSullivan picks Stephen Hendry clash as the best match hes ever played in, MORE : Ronnie OSullivan and Judd Trump react to possibility of World Championship behind closed doors. You cannot play better snooker than that. Inevitably it means there is a recency bias towards OSullivan when the topic of the greatest comes up. "He's the most natural thing you'll ever see. I'll knock the ciggies on the head, knock the scones on the head, try to eat a bit healthier and look after myself. 1991 - John Parrott. Tournament favourite O'Sullivan had been aiming to win an eighth world title, having equalled Stephen Hendry's tally of seven12 months ago. In the modern. When I got six to equal Steve [Davis], I had to get seven. This is not in the script., But Ronnie OSullivan I was a bit concerned for him that day because I think he has talked about it that he went on a mad blow out for a few days and just needed to let the steam off., Gary Neville reveals 'insight' on why Erik ten Hag is not picking Man Utd star, Man Utd identify France star as better transfer option than Victor Osimhen this summer, Gary Neville reacts to Bruno Fernandes being told to 'stop moaning' by Man Utd team-mate. You may have seen the famous clip of Diego Maradonas warm-up routine, from the second leg of Napolis Uefa Cup semi-final against Bayern Munich in 1989: the one where he is like a Marvel superhero with a football. The Rocket regained the world crown courtesy of an emotional victory over rival Judd Trump in last year's final, becoming the oldest World Champion in the sport's . Hendry won seven World Championships, five UK Championships, and six Masters titles. We hear a lot of talk about the benefits of home advantage in sport but Hendry usually had the crowd against him and worse. "OK he's maybe not been put under the pressure but that's because he's played so well and has refused to let people put him under pressure. At the age of just 17, O'Sullivan caused a sensation by beating Hendry in the 1993 UK Championship final. 1) Press the share button on your browser's menu bar. I tried to be as relaxed as I could but thats probably my greatest result against someone, OSullivan said, before smiling: This tournament brings out the worst in me but well probably go again next year. An eighth title, even in an era with players as special as Trump, does not seem impossible either. Had Trump claimed that first frame and clawed it back to two, maybe OSullivans nerves would have frayed. O'Sullivan signed off his tournament in style despite a late comeback attempt from final foe Trump. OSullivan would bounce back and return to York to win the UK Championship the very next season. 'The Rocket' cruised into the Crucible semi-finals for a record 13th time by wrapping up a 13-5 win over Stephen Maguire. It was his most dazzling session of the tournament and OSullivans worst, but the credit should go to Trump for the way he rallied. O'Sullivan stands on 69 wins from 92 matches played between 1993 and 2021. If anyone tries to pick holes in that, good luck to you.'. Get our web app. However, he won six of the eight frames available in the afternoon to reduce OSullivans cushion to three frames. "He's passionate about it. **Hendry resumed playing in 2021 after nine years out, but his future on the tour is unclear. He played a total of 84 matches at the Crucible over five decades, winning 60 matches from 30 appearances. Trump needed a strong start in the evening but he did not get it. By contrast, Hendry won all seven. He must have been born with a block of chalk in his mouth.". (modern). Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. 14 years later, the Rocket has explained his actions and says it is not a course of action he would take again. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Neil Robertson: From job centre to playing on TV was just amazing, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. It won't take up space on your phone. I just was out there playing Hendry and thought Im not going to win this match, Im not feeling it, I dont want to be here, I just want to get out of here, I shook his hand and off I went. The 44-year-old has won the event seven times now, more than any other player and former world number three Neal Foulds says his ability to recover from such low points is a measure of the man. Ronnie O'Sullivan claimed his seventh World Championship title with an 18-13 win over Judd Trump to equal Stephen Hendry's record in the modern era. I'm sure he won't be happy until he's done that. That left the door ajar for OSullivan and, despite a century from the 32-year-old in what proved the penultimate frame of the championship, his coronation was completed with a supreme break of 85. Another memorable match was the 1999 Masters final, which Hendry won 10-9. Ronnie OSullivan beats Judd Trump 18-13 in World Snooker Championship final live! 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. As he won frame after frame, talk began to shift from whether there would even be an evening session, to whether those present could be witnessing the greatest comeback in snooker history, second only to when Dennis Taylor trailed Steve Davis 8-0 in 1985. Ronnie O'Sullivan's record-equalling World Snooker Championship win over Judd Trump drew praise from joint-holder Stephen Hendry, who stated his surprise that "it's taken him so long", 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.". Ronnie O'Sullivan was a class act when speaking following his comeback defeat to Belgian Luca Brecel at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield on Wednesday. In an example of remarkable sporting longevity since turning professional in 1992, O'Sullivan will equal the all-time appearance record at the Crucible held by. Homepage. 'One of the best shots you will ever witness' from on-fire OSullivan, 'Dramatic!' He said he doesn't look at the records but he'll want to get eight. All rights reserved. O'Sullivan led their head-to-head 36-33, but Higgins had won five of their last six encounters. O'Sullivan, 46, surpassed Ray Reardon as the oldest player to triumph at the Crucible, clinching a seventh world crown some 21 years after winning his first. 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. . I presume it'll be the same for Ronnie, he'll have to get eight. If hes got problems, I feel for him.. Maradonas extraordinary routine, which has been viewed tens of millions of times on YouTube, came to mind again while watching another renegade master, Ronnie OSullivan, caress, finesse and blast his way to another world snooker final. Ronnie O'Sullivan poses with the trophy after his form in the evening session saw off Judd Trump in the World Championship Snooker final. Ronnie O'Sullivan plays down the achievement of equalling Stephen Hendry's record of seven world titles. However, it was not to be as he faltered to a shock loss in the tournament quarter-finals at The Crucible. There is no one dominating the sport like he did, like Tiger Woods did. It says something of the class of both men that Hendry was just as effusive about OSullivan. O'Sullivan won a record 38 consecutive matches after turning professional all in ranking events and surpassing the previous record of Stephen Hendry in his debut season, and he won 74 of his 76 qualifying matches. OSullivan pulled it back to 8-8. Their head-to-head record is one of the most closely contested in the history of the sport, and their matches have produced some of the most memorable moments in snooker history. As for Brecel, he will play the winner of the match between Anthony McGill or Si Jiahui in the last . Snooker is a popular cue sport played worldwide. Sign up to The Recap, our weekly email of editors picks. And Hendry did all this despite never being a darling of the masses, like the Rocket or Whirlwind. The world number one admitted he loved watching Brecel play, even if it was at his own expense in front of an expectant crowd. O'Sullivan v Hendry: How key records compare Ranking title wins: 38-36 World titles 6-7 UK titles: 7-5 Masters titles: 7-6 Crucible match wins: 69-70 Crucible win percentage: 75-77.78%. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. 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. No player goes through a world championship triumph without one session to forget and in the heat of the moment on Monday afternoon when Trump threatened to push OSullivan all the way, it was easy to forget that was the first time The Rocket had wavered all tournament long. World Championships: Stephen Hendry - 7 (9 finals) Ronnie O'Sullivan - 5 (6 finals) UK Championships: Stephen Hendry - 5 (10 finals) Read about our approach to external linking. I wanted to play but obviously there was a lot of stuff going on in my head that was upsetting really. A 30-year journey to snookering immortality, which has not been without its bumps along the way, was never likely to be straightforward even in its final stages given the prize on offer. O'Sullivan needs to reach the quarter-finals at the Crucible Theatre to overtake Hendry as the Sheffield venue's most prolific match winner of all time since the inception of the modern televised era in 1977. 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. OSullivan is a genius. Yes, you can play snooker on a pool table, but there are some significant For an optimized experience on mobile, add Xllaa Sports shortcut to your mobile device's home screen. Watch on BBC, Eurosport, Discovery+, and more O'Sullivan's 102 in the sixth frame was his 200th century at the Crucible. Ronnie O'Sullivan is once again snooker's world champion after an 18-13 win over Judd Trump in the final at the Crucible. Ray Reardon left coached O'Sullivan for two years from 2004. However, his time will have to wait for at least one more year. And Stephen Hendry, the look on his face and Jan Verhaas face, thinking what do we do know? OSullivan, whose career began 30 years ago, has spent five years on top. The 37-year-old's fourth world title follows successes in 2014, 2016 and 2017 and the Jester from Leicester picked up 500,000 in prize money thanks to his latest Sheffield title. Only player to make five centuries in a best of nine match. One of their greatest matches was the 2002 World Championship final, which OSullivan won 18-14. The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. If I could hit the ball like that, I would be taking them on 'I said "I hope you go and win it, you played fantastic, it would be brilliant for snooker and brilliant for you". Facing White at Wembley was particularly bad. You cant predict what hes going to do OSullivan on how Brecel is beating Selby. Reardon became the first man to win six world crowns in 1978, a feat not bettered until Hendry in 1999. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. and our Who has qualified for the 46th World Championship at the Crucible? With this title, O'Sullivan has equalled Stephen. Ronnie O'Sullivan is looking to win a record-breaking eighth world title to take himself beyond the great Stephen Hendry. I have played snooker for a long time and I've not seen anyone hit the ball as good, he just whips through it. Ronnie O'Sullivan admits that he would not repeat his concession against Stephen Hendry at the 2006 UK Championship, but says it was due to ongoing personal problems that eventually. 'The Rocket', who is. In the past fortnight there has been a lot of talk about the Class of 92 OSullivan, Higgins and Mark Williams. Hes won more of the majors than any other player now, more Masters, more UK Championships, so hes turned it all around. Stephen Hendry became the youngest snooker world champion in 1990 at the age of 21. ou may have seen the famous clip of Diego Maradonas warm-up routine, from the second leg of Napolis Uefa Cup semi-final against Bayern Munich in 1989: the one where he is like a Marvel superhero with a football. The Soccer Teams Luca Brecel and Si Jiahui played 1 Games up to today. Ronnie OSullivan is aiming to win a seventh world title. I was having a lot of problems at home, with my family life, Ronnie told Eurosport. 10. 'I love watching him play, what a lovely player to watch,' O'Sullivan told Eurosport. It is just a number - I do not get too caught up in that. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. But I still make Hendry primus inter pares, by a squeak. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. He continued: 'I'm going to enjoy a holiday and go away soon. Gary Neville reacts to Jadon Sancho telling Bruno Fernandes to stop moaning during Manchester United win, Manchester United pushing hardest to sign Randal Kolo Muani and view him as better alternative to Victor Osimhen, Frank Lampard hints Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could start for Chelsea against former side Arsenal, Frank Lampard pokes fun at Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp over hamstring injury, Frank Lampard fears Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly will not play again this season in latest injury blow, Ronnie OSullivan picks Stephen Hendry clash as the best match hes ever played in, Ronnie OSullivan and Judd Trump react to possibility of World Championship behind closed doors, Do not sell or share my personal information. "He's a winning machine. Considering all categories of tournament, including ranking, non-ranking and invitational, Steve Davis has won the most titles in snooker. I enjoyed watching him play, I've got to be honest with you. I know he doesn't say it. Tournament favourite O'Sullivan had been aiming to win an eighth world title, having equalled Stephen Hendry's tally of seven 12 months ago.. Luca Brecel of Belgium interacts with Ronnie O'Sullivan (R) of England following their Quarter Final match on Day Twelve of the Cazoo World Snooker Championship 2023 at Crucible Theatre on April 26, 2023 in Sheffield, England. The official community for all things Snooker. It means O'Sullivan's bid to surpass Stephen Hendry with an eighth world crown is over for 2023. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie OSullivan have both achieved a lot in their careers. Sign up to My Sport to follow snooker news on the BBC app. O'Sullivan leads the head-to-head 37-31 with three drawn matches in league formats, but the fine margins between them is illustrated by the betting with O'Sullivan priced at 4/5 and Higgins . Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is Joe Davis, who won 15 consecutive titles from 1927 to 1946. . 1990: Stephen Hendry; 1991: John Parrott; 1992: Stephen Hendry; 1993: Stephen Hendry; 1994: Stephen Hendry; . RONNIE O'SULLIVAN'S World Snooker Championship win in 2022 has once again raised the debate over who is the greatest star in history. He was a master of the safety game, and he could often force his opponents into mistakes. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie OSullivan have played many memorable matches against each other. Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies, Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Reardon told BBC Radio Devon O'Sullivan is "incredible". Stephen Hendry and Ronnie OSullivan have very different styles of play. O'Sullivan had led the game 6-2 and then 10-6, before Brecel reeled off seven consecutive frames to claim a 13-10 victory. Ultimately however, there would be no repeat for the Bristolian, but he is surely a multiple world champion in waiting. Finely poised at 14-11 on Monday evening, OSullivan returned refreshed and revitalised for the final session. The Scots response? The record was previously set by Stephen Hendry back in 1999. But by potting it he showed he was not intimidated by the score, the opponent, the occasion or the huge crowd largely rooting for White. History repeated itself in 1993 when Hendry thrashed White 18-5 in the world championship final, having lost only 25 frames in five matches. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie OSullivan have played each other a total of 70 times, with Hendry winning 36 matches and OSullivan winning 34 matches. What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship?