Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2008 World Championship - Mark Williams, 10. 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. 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. 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. As if to underline how disappointing the comeback has been, the man himself did not enter the event. 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. 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. It almost took the pressure off me kind of thing, not that I'm under pressure to do anything. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. 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. He reeled off six consecutive frames to establish a four-frame advantage at the interval and despite a brief rally by his opponent he wrapped up victory with a break of 78. 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. Stephen Maguire became UK champion in 2004 and currently has six ranking titles to his name. Ronnie O'Sullivan 2014 UK Championship - Matthew Selt, 14. A. Career. @ronnieo147 pic.twitter.com/bCUnSqT2Z0. 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. Considering all categories of tournament, including ranking, non-ranking and invitational, Steve Davis has won the most titles in snooker. "I can't really envisage it happening, there's just going to be more and more players knocking each other out.". On either side of this triumph, he appeared in two other Crucible finals. There were so many - 70 titles in total - that we had to settle on just a dozen. 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. 1996: Fifth consecutive world title comes with final victory over Peter Ebdon. Its now undisputed, if it wasnt already. Stephen Hendry bestrode the sport in the 90s in an almost imperious way. One of snookers all-time greats Scotlands Stephen Hendry remains the player with the most World Championship titles to his name in the modern era following his record seven Crucible crowns won from 1990-1999. "You could still have business interests and still play, but he's chosen not to. Hendry holds the record for the most seasons as the no.1 player; he was ranked no.1 for nine seasons. 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. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. Read about our approach to external linking. "Then you let the snooker gods decide what they're going to decide, and these 17 days they were on my side. This year he made the back pages for making amends in majestic fashion by compiling a breathtaking 147 break in the deciding frame of his semi-final with Mark Selby. 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. 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. 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. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1999 Grand Prix v Graeme Dott, 4. 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 16 centuries in the 2002 world championship also set a record. 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. 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. Discovery company. 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). John Higgins has won four and is good enough to win another four; it is hard to say.". He has played a partial schedule in 2021 and 2022, never making it past the second round of a tournament. 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 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. 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. After Hendry lost the top ranking in 2007, his play began to decline, and in 2012 he retired suddenly following his loss in the quarterfinals of the snooker world championship. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. While many had given the enigmatic Rocket GOAT status on talent grounds long before he'd surpassed Stephen Hendry's records for most ranking titles (36) and Triple Crowns (18) due to the . 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. I just try to enjoy the game, compete, try and enjoy what I do, and work hard at my game. "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. 1. O'Sullivan equalled the record of Stephen Hendry by winning his seventh World Championship . 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. 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. At 18, he won his first ranking title, the 1987 Grand Prix. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies, Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? The scene was vibrant. . Hendrys streak cooled in the 2000s, but he remained competitive, even reclaiming his No. "The ultimate goal is to play one more match at the Crucible. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Discovery company. Hendry changed the way snooker was played, ushering in a more attacking era and establishing records that took decades to be matched. 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. This is generally known as the start of the 'modern era'. What TV channel is 2022 World Snooker Championship final? 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. However, one big difference was how he approached the game itself. 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. - Hendry and Robertson not impressed with how some pros train, Hendry: O'Sullivan is the only player that doesnt speak to anyone. 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. Career Total Statistics Tournament Record Most Frequent Opponents Rounds Reached Century Frequency Centuries per Season Graph Ranking History Prize Money History. In 1984, at age 15, Hendry became the youngest Scottish amateur snooker champion in history. Tribute to Stephen Hendry. Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. 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. That's what a champion does, they don't play their best, they get to the final, and they still nearly win it. He admired and coveted Daviss success and adopted his mindset. 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. 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. He said: "I think it meant more to him than it does to me, to have seven world titles. He was that dominant. 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. Maybe they need another talisman to look up to, but the Hendrys of this world are rare. O'Sullivan came into the Masters on the back of losing the UK Championship final to Mark Selby but bounced back with wins over Liang Wenbo (6-5), Neil Robertson (6-3) and Marco Fu (6-4) before successfully defending his crown with a 10-7 triumph over Joe Perry. 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. Can't stop smiling watching this againpic.twitter.com/vPxSMZhCEo, 1000 x ! Ronnie O'Sullivan's legendary career reaches a new unprecedented milestone, making his 1000th century - 27 years after his first - to win his 35th ranking title! What. But it was a strange feeling I had. 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. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. Once again, Hendry was setting records, with an unprecedented seventh world title. He represented his nation at the highest level of a hugely popular sport with distinction, winning 36 ranking tournaments including seven World Championships. He has the record for most century breaks during a tournament, scoring 16 centuries during the 2002 World Snooker Championship. Davis was the best player of his generation but still played the percentages. Corrections? All rights reserved. 1995: Beats Nigel Bond in the World Championship final. He shares the record for most World Snooker Championship wins with Ronnie OSullivan: both have seven titles. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2007 Northern Ireland Trophy - Ali Carter, 8. Selby clinched his fourth triumph this . Ronnie O'Sullivan makes a maximum break 147 in 6 min on first frame! 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. The record was previously set by Stephen Hendry back in 1999. Considering all categories of tournament, including ranking, non-ranking and invitational, Steve Davis has won the most titles in snooker. Tuesday 03 May 2022 09:19. 'One from the archives' - Hendry makes fantastic brown to win frame, 'That is the Hendry we remember well!' In 2020, Hendry accepted a tour card for the World Snooker Tour, indicating his return to professional play. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. Stephen Hendry: "Are you saying another record of mine is going? believes Hendry's achievements mark him out as the stand-out player in the sport's history. 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. Even Neil Robertson is laughing by the end of the title-winning break. "It's been an unbelievable career," Taylor told. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. While anarchy reigned on the big screen, another Scotsman was at the peak of his powers, monopolising TV time as he swept all before him. Having recently been awarded an OBE for his services to snooker, the Rocket beat Mark Williams (6-5), Mark Selby (6-3), Stuart Bingham (6-3) before annihilating Barry Hawkins 10-1 to equal Hendry's tally of six Masters titles. Well worth a watch even for Ronnie fans! Enjoy. 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. We look back at his 28. In terms of weeks spent as world number one, as of April 18, 2022, Stephen Hendry tops the list. Higgins, 47, continues to have a successful career at the top level with 31 ranking event victories to his name, including four world titles. 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.