in the final last week to clinch his sixth title and draw level with his former coach Reardon and Steve Davis. Their head-to-head record is one of the most closely contested in the history of snooker, with both players winning many [] Sign up to The Recap, our weekly email of editors picks. It is that the greatest player of all time is doing all this, and many other nonchalant tricks and flicks, with his shoelaces untied. Barcelona boss Xavi . Let me build a case. He was the best player throughout the tournament by quite far. He has also achieved a number of other records, including the fastest maximum break in history (5 minutes and 20 seconds). As they continue to play at the highest level, they will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of players to take up the sport and follow in their footsteps. Either way, OSullivan has a rare knack of making the ball dance to his tune, just like El Diego. 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. Watch on BBC, Eurosport, Discovery+, and more O'Sullivan's 102 in the sixth frame was his 200th century at the Crucible. To hit a match-winning 147. Speed Records Fastest 147 - five minutes and eight seconds at the 1997 World Championship. 2022 Tour Championship: O'Sullivan and Williams in line to lock cues in Llandudno. The 47-year-old was left stunned in his seat on . I've got seven UKs, seven Masters, seven worlds. Prince gone within two hours of Coronation. 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. 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'll knock the ciggies on the head, knock the scones on the head, try to eat a bit healthier and look after myself. Cookie Notice 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. And the man known as the 'King of the Crucible' predicted his old foe will be determined to go on and break the record outright. The record-setting Bruins and defending champion Avalanche are hosting Game 7s, and the momentum of their playoff series couldn't be more . Ronnie O'Sullivan, 47, and Stephen Hendry dominated the game in their respective eras. I wanted to play but obviously there was a lot of stuff going on in my head that was upsetting really. THEY are the two greatest snooker players of all-time. The 47-year-old equalled Stephen Hendry's record seven world titles after beating Judd Trump 18-13 at the Crucible last year. Hes won more of the majors than any other player now, more Masters, more UK Championships, so hes turned it all around. Ronnie O'Sullivan admits he is running out of time to land a record eighth Crucible crown following his jaw-dropping defeat to Luca Brecel. 14 years later, the Rocket has explained his actions and says it is not a course of action he would take again. Exclusive: OSullivan weighs in on Selby Snooker GOAT debate, World Championship final - Latest scores, results, schedule, order of play as Brecel takes on Selby. 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. You've got to have a perspective on things and sometimes you have to take the rough with the smooth is it?'. Hendry went 8-2 up in a best-of-17 encounter. By contrast, Hendry won all seven of his titles over the course of a decade (1990-99) and made only 27 tournament appearances compared to O'Sullivan's 30. . Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. 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. The match was a classic, with both players showing their immense skill and determination. (modern). I know he doesn't say it. Read about our approach to external linking. Trump is the most recent player to have achieved a career Triple Crown, winning the Masters and World Championship in the 2018-19 snooker season . With this title, O'Sullivan has equalled Stephen. Even Trump could not hide his admiration for his hero on this most historic of snookering occasions. 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. No one does it better, he said. "As I said on the commentary, he's taken snooker to new heights. . If hes got problems, I feel for him.. 2022 - Ronnie O'Sullivan. But I still make Hendry primus inter pares, by a squeak. He was that dominant. Ronnie O'Sullivan is looking to win a record-breaking eighth world title to take himself beyond the great Stephen Hendry. 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. Arguably OSullivan is playing in a field much tougher than Hendry ever did but, irrespective of that, the fact that he has now won world titles in three different decades is a staggering testimony to his longevity as a player that, worryingly for his peers, seems to be getting better and better. It is hard to argue. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan won seven successive frames as he thumped Hossein Vafaei 13-2 in their Crucible grudge match to reach the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship. Stephen Hendry said he was "surprised" it took Ronnie O'Sullivan so long to match his World Championship record, O'Sullivan broke down after winning a record-equalling seventh World Snooker Championship, Referee at centre of Ronnie O'Sullivan row is Covid-19 hero who worked on frontline, Ronnie O'Sullivan walking World Snooker Championship forfeit tightrope after ref row. What TV channel is 2022 World Snooker Championship final? By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. (modern). 'The Juddernaut' trailed 12-5 at one stage but finished on the receiving end of a more respectable 18-12 scoreline, and The Rocket ended his competition with a new career best of 15 Crucible centuries. 1. Their matches are often high-quality affairs, with both players showing their immense talent and skill. Finely poised at 14-11 on Monday evening, OSullivan returned refreshed and revitalised for the final session. Photograph: Richard Sellers/PA Perhaps the crucial moment came at 14-9 down as Hendry, with the cue ball in the jaws of the middle. 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. If there were any doubts remaining about OSullivans status as the greatest of all-time, they may now finally have been removed. 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 Soccer Teams Luca Brecel and Si Jiahui played 1 Games up to today. Watch it here I'm actually surprised it's taken him so long to get to seven - that's how good he is! **Hendry resumed playing in 2021 after nine years out, but his future on the tour is unclear. 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. It was his most dazzling session of the tournament and OSullivans worst, but the credit should go to Trump for the way he rallied. For retired professional-turned-pundit Alan McManus, the Rockets red and black combination against John Higgins were the best two shots back-to-back he has seen in a semi-final, while these eyes slightly preferred the blunt power of a red to the middle against Stephen Maguire. But Hendry, in his prime, often took them to school. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. Despite his achievement, O'Sullivan played down his latest feat and praise his fellow record-holder as he told the BBC : "I think it meant more to him [Hendry] than me to have seven world titles but we will share it. For more stories like this, check our sport page. The pair's head-to-head would suggest that we could be in for a classic encounter, with 11 wins apiece from their 22 prior . At the age of just 17, O'Sullivan caused a sensation by beating Hendry in the 1993 UK Championship final. 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. (10) 8 26 & 27 April Stephen Maguire (SCO) 10 Stephen Maguire 5 18 April Ronnie O'Sullivan (2) 13 Mark . 1990 - Stephen Hendry. 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. . But if anyone was ever likely to join him, it was always going to be OSullivan, snookers grand master and great entertainer. 2 has appeared at the Crucible 29 times and has carried off the trophy over three decades in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2020. And the 46-year-old, who reeled off breaks of 71 and 126 in . 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 . Homepage. Ronnie O'Sullivan won a record seventh World Snooker Championship crown after beating Judd Trump 18-13 in the final here on Monday. 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. O'Sullivan is back at the sport's spiritual home on a quest to make history by eclipsing the joint record of seven world titles he currently shares with Stephen Hendry. 'I love watching him play, what a lovely player to watch,' O'Sullivan told Eurosport. It is not just that Maradona pogos up and down with the ball seemingly glued to his head. Find the latest news about the World Snooker Tour and the WPBSA, discussion of the current tournaments without spoilers, tips on improving your play and videos of some of snooker's greatest moments. He was a master of the safety game, and he could often force his opponents into mistakes. Ronnie O'Sullivan plays down the achievement of equalling Stephen Hendry's record of seven world titles. I presume it'll be the same for Ronnie, he'll have to get eight. Design . Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Get our web app. At times it has seemed unrealistic that anyone could scale that mountain again, given the sheer dominance Hendry enjoyed to win his seven world crowns. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. For good measure Hendry also spent a recordbreaking nine years as world No 1, ahead of Steve Davis on seven. What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? 1) Press the share button on your browser's menu bar. Luca Brecel can make history over the next two days (Picture: Getty Images) The World Snooker Championship has reached its climax, with Luca Brecel and Mark Selby the last two men standing as they prepare to battle it out in the final over two days at the Crucible. TRENDING. Never was that better illustrated when, 30 years ago this week, he came from 14-8 down to defeat Jimmy White 18-14 and win the 1992 world title in what Clive Everton described on these pages as the most dramatic and emphatic recovery seen in a Crucible final. This was arguably his masterpiece in terms of runs to a world crown, with near-dominance from start to finish. However, his time will have to wait for at least one more year. The World No. OSullivan pulled it back to 8-8. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan are two of the greatest snooker players of all time. Luca Brecel, who knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals, is taking on 20-year-old Chinese debutant Si Jiahui in the World Snooker Championship semis Their first meeting was in 1993, and their most recent meeting was in 2019. 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Ronnie O'Sullivan resumes his World Snooker Championship title defence on Tuesday against Luca Brecel as the business end of the tournament begins at the Crucible. Had he missed it he would have certainly trailed 15-9, wrote Everton. It depends what frame of mind he's in. Luca Brecel, who conquered Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter-final, produced the largest comeback at the famous Sheffield venue, winning 11 frames on the spin to turn a 14-5 deficit into a 17-14 victory. In this blog, we will take a closer look at their head-to-head record, their styles of play, and their greatest matches. This is generally known as the start of the 'modern era'. He keeps getting better and better. He must have been born with a block of chalk in his mouth.". He is one of the most natural talents the game has ever seen, and he can make difficult shots look easy. 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. Watch: Class act Ronnie O'Sullivan gives brilliant interview despite defeat to Luca Brecel, Mark Selby hits first-ever World Championship final 147 as he reels in Luca Brecel, Watch: 'Over a few beers!' With O'Sullivan aiming to clinch an outright record eighth world title to surpass fellow legend Stephen Hendry's tally, White identified some of the key aspects of The Rocket's game that . OSullivan is a genius. Tournament favourite O'Sullivan had been aiming to win an eighth world title, having equalled Stephen Hendry's tally of seven12 months ago. 'The Rocket', who is playing down his chances of an eighth title to move clear of Stephen Hendry, is relaxed ahead of the quarter-finals: "I've got nothing to lose. That was a staggering enough feat. The World Snooker Championship resumes today with two contrasting semi-finals at the Crucible that have divided opinion.. Mark Selby battled back from a three-frame deficit against Mark Allen to establish a 7-6 overnight advantage, but Stephen Hendry criticised the pair for casting a "dark cloud" over the Crucible after the session was halted earlier than scheduled. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie OSullivan have played many memorable matches against each other. It was . CrowdScience sets off on a space odyssey to find out Black Ops: A high-stakes yet hilarious covert operation that will infiltrate your screen soon, Money Box meets some remarkable 'kidpreneurs' who run their own enterprise, Sink into your pillow with the Shipping Forecast set to dreamy music. The world number one admitted he loved watching Brecel play, even if it was at his own expense in front of an expectant crowd. Ronnie O'Sullivan insists he is not chasing World Championship record Be the first to read breaking news, the best sports coverage & top entertainment stories. Six-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan established a commanding 12-5 lead over Judd Trump on a feisty first day of the World Championship final. Answer (1 of 8): Let's compare the two players' rolls of honour at this point in time. Back in the late 90s, in my early days as a journalist on Total Sport, I visited Hendrys club in Stirling for our Show Us Your Medals section. Last updated on 24 August 202024 August 2020.From the section Snooker. 6.1K views 1 year ago When it comes to snooker records, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'sullivan are the two giants in the game. Ronnie O'Sullivan is aiming to win a seventh world title. Unlike Davis who failed to qualify for the tournament proper in 2001 and 2002, O'Sullivan has never missed a Crucible appearance after losing 10-7 to. He says some silly things sometimes, but he loves snooker. 1993 - Stephen Hendry. OSullivan, on the other hand, is known for his attacking style of play. All rights reserved. It won't take up space on your phone. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. . I'm not as downbeat as everyone thinks I will be, I'm sorry if anyone gets offended by that. If anyone tries to pick holes in that, good luck to you.'. Ronnie O'Sullivan is once again snooker's world champion after an 18-13 win over Judd Trump in the final at the Crucible. Only player to make five centuries in a best of nine match. Sign up to My Sport to follow snooker news on the BBC app. "He's passionate about it. Si Jiahui is ahead in the other semi-final leading Ronnie O'Sullivan's conqueror Luca Brecel ahead of their 7pm session. OSullivan would bounce back and return to York to win the UK Championship the very next season. One of their greatest matches was the 2002 World Championship final, which OSullivan won 18-14. As the World Championship approaches, I thought I would compile a stats post on the two greatest players in the history of snooker. 'The Rocket' says he is not driven by matching Stephen Hendry's record of seven titles after latest Crucible success. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. When I got six to equal Steve [Davis], I had to get seven. Xllaa Sports is a leading sports blog website that updates the latest sports news and events happening worldwide. And if he does win a magnificent seventh world title by converting his 12-5 lead over Judd Trump on Monday a feat that would equal Stephen Hendrys record the clamour for him to be ordained as the greatest ever will become a crescendo. A ranking tournament is one that counts towards snooker's world rankings, which were introduced in the 1976-77 season. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. More than 20 years on from capturing his first world title in 2001, O'Sullivan matched Stephen Hendry's record of seven and became the oldest man to win this famous trophy at 46 years of. Only Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry have made more Quarter-Final appearances than Higgins (17) - who looks to have preserved his vintage best form for the sport's biggest occasion. Snooker is a popular cue sport played worldwide. And Stephen Hendry, the look on his face and Jan Verhaas face, thinking what do we do know? and our The infamous incident took place in the quarter-final in York with the Rocket 4-1 behind in a race to nine. Stephen Hendry Vs Ronnie OSullivan Head To Head. Absolutely. 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. When the final and most important break of the match was completed, OSullivan allowed the mask to slip in a lengthy embrace with Trump before his emotions came to the fore. Their first Crucible clash came just over a year later at the 1995 World Championship, with then three-time defending champion Hendry triumphing 13-8 in the quarter-finals. But last week OSullivan himself acknowledged just how good Hendry was in his prime, saying: He used to play six hours a day and didnt miss a ball. Ronnie O'Sullivan poses with the trophy after his form in the evening session saw off Judd Trump in the World Championship Snooker final. But despite Judd Trump making everyone wonder if the impossible could really happen at one stage on Monday afternoon, the world championship ended in yet more history for Ronnie OSullivan: and this bit really means something. Reardon became the first man to win six world crowns in 1978, a feat not bettered until Hendry in 1999. Ronnie O'Sullivan became the oldest player, at 46, to win the World Snooker Championship, and equalled Stephen Hendry's record of seven titles, when he beat Judd Trump 18-13 in the final at the . There were so many 70 titles in total that we had to settle on just a dozen. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie OSullivan have both achieved a lot in their careers. 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. Facing White at Wembley was particularly bad. Davis lifted the world title in 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1989 as the decade's dominant force. Theres times now Im sitting there thinking Id rather be at home, Ive had a bit too much travelling, but I wouldnt do that again., There was concern for the Rocket at the time, with Hendry saying after the match: Ive never seen anything like it in my life. The match was a high-quality affair, with both players producing some incredible snooker. But the Scot was able to surpass it in 1994, beating White 18-17 in the final despite fracturing an elbow while going to the bathroom in the middle of the night earlier in the tournament. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. All rights reserved. That doesn't quite match the record of 16 centuries Hendry has long held, a tally that Mark Williams managed to tie at this year's contest. It is just a number - I do not get too caught up in that. 1992 - Stephen Hendry. Seventh title would be fantastic - O'Sullivan. Hendry won 70 matches from 90 played at the Crucible between 1986 and 2012 when he appeared 27 times and lifted the trophy on seven occasions in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999. Another memorable match was the 1999 Masters final, which Hendry won 10-9. He is just supreme in all departments.. OSullivan has won six World Championships, seven UK Championships, and seven Masters titles. That could have happened three of four matches before Hendry. I'm sure he won't be happy until he's done that. Since Hendry retired in 2012 before returning last year on a wildcard, O'Sullivan has claimed most of the key records on the green baize ahead of his bid to join the Scot as a seven-time world champion at the 46th Crucible event, the sport's most coveted tournament. Hendry was known for his consistency and his ability to grind out wins even when he wasnt playing his best. O'Sullivan beat Kyren Wilson 18-8 in the final last week to clinch his sixth title and draw level with his former coach Reardon and Steve Davis. In the past fortnight there has been a lot of talk about the Class of 92 OSullivan, Higgins and Mark Williams. The 47-year-old equalled Stephen Hendry's record. 'Alright he can miss a few, but when you hit the ball like that why wouldn't you go for them shots? 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. Surface Studio vs iMac - Which Should You Pick? I have played snooker for a long time and I've not seen anyone hit the ball as good, he just whips through it.