In recognition of his excellence in the sport, Hendry was knighted, receiving a MBE recognition in 1994. What Is The Prize of The World Snooker Championship? In 1984, at age 15, Hendry became the youngest Scottish amateur snooker champion in history. His triumph, which came a quarter of a century after he won his first United Kingdom crown as a 17-year-old, also saw O'Sullivan nudge ahead of Stephen Hendry with 19 Triple Crown titles - comprising the World and UK Championships and the Masters. Now in the world's top 16 for the first time, Ronnie O'Sullivan booked his place in the Masters tournament automatically, having made his debut the previous year after coming through the qualifying event ranked 57 in the world. Stream the Scottish Open and more top snooker action live on, 'Feels amazing' Higgins ends 13-month title drought by retaining Championship League crown, Zhao and Yan to miss World Championship ahead of match-fixing hearing. The seventh, though, was like a dam breaking. Ronnie OSullivan registered the 1000th century break of his extraordinary career to win the final of the 2019 Players Championship. While his comments about needing to lose one arm to drop out of the world's top 50 were still going viral, it looked as though he'd bow out when supposedly playing recklessly against Mark Selby in the semi-final. To be fair, Hendry had done everything to lower expectations. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. While many had given the enigmatic Rocket GOAT status on talent grounds long before hed surpassed Stephen Hendrys records for most ranking titles (36) and Triple Crowns (18) due to the countless moments of unfathomable genius and blockbusting entertainment hed treated us to since bursting onto the scene in 1993, the statistics have now landed the knockout blow. The record was previously set by Stephen Hendry back in 1999. He has played only a handful of events and found victories hard to come by. His 16 centuries in the 2002 world championship also set a record. Hendry won his first major junior tournament, the Scottish U-16 Championship, at age 14.Around this time, he appeared on the junior version of the BBCs Pot Black, a televised single-frame snooker competition that contributed to the games resurgence.At 15, Hendry won the Scottish Amateur Championship. Walter Donaldson became the world champion in the post-war era, but for a long time, Scotland lagged behind the other UK nations. At the first World Team Cup in 1979, there was not even a Scottish team. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. 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. Davis, 54, beat Hendry in the 1989 World Championship semi-finals en route to winning his last title at the Crucible, with Scotsman Hendry turning the tables at the same stage five years later. "I can't see Stephen changing his mind; once he decides on something, that's it. O'Sullivan has always played down his pursuit of the record and maintained that stance in his post-match press conference. Any excuse to dig this uppic.twitter.com/hzoGnnsx9W, 1. 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. He's an absolutely wonderful snooker player.. Hendry was full-on attack, casting safety aside and always looking to open the balls and kill frames off in one visit. O'Sullivan set to pass another Hendry record To qualify for that would be incredible. Stephen Hendry with his now girlfriend of four years Lauren Thundow The couple first launched a bid to build more homes on the site in 2008 and later won planning permission. Davis was the best player of his generation but still played the percentages. He shares the record for most World Snooker Championship wins with Ronnie OSullivan: both have seven titles. "Then you let the snooker gods decide what they're going to decide, and these 17 days they were on my side. pic.twitter.com/PoE9RBEcNh. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. As if to underline how disappointing the comeback has been, the man himself did not enter the event. Career Total Statistics Tournament Record Most Frequent Opponents Rounds Reached Century Frequency Centuries per Season Graph Ranking History Prize Money History. What TV channel is 2022 World Snooker Championship final? As the Scottish Open begins in Edinburgh, its worth remembering that this had not always been the case. We share it, its alright to share that, Hendrys a legend of the game, an absolute legend of the game. McManus would win the Masters itself in 1994. 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. 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 with wife Mandy and son Blaine after beating Mark Williams 18-11 to win a record seventh world title. "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. The 53-year-old Scotsman won 70 matches from 90 played at the Crucible between 1986 and 2012 when he appeared 27 times and lifted the world trophy on seven occasions in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan's first TV appearance aged just 14 in 1990, making a break of 75. Four years later, he turned professional. 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. Although he sat out of the 2022 World Snooker Championship qualifying, Hendry stated that he intends to continue competing. After winning his first World Championship in 1990, he became the youngest player ever to lift the title at 21. We look back at his 28 years of astonishing milestones, achievements statistics, maximum breaks, and fan-pleasing antics. He said: "I think it meant more to him than it does to me, to have seven world titles. However, this latest unforgettable run at an empty Crucible began with an astonishing 10-1 triumph over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in just 108 minutes - the quickest best-of-19 frame match ever by 41 minutes - but he had to battle much harder to see off Ding Junhui and Mark Williams 13-10. 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%. 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. #snooker #bbcsnooker pic.twitter.com/dgKOL1QXhs, Ronnie O'Sullivan doing this to trail Mark Selby 16-14 in a World Championship semi-final but still ends up winning 17-16 in a match of the ages. His youth made him a relatable figure to youngsters everywhere, but especially in Scotland. 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. Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies, Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Hendry had observed Steve Davis aloofness, the way he set himself apart from his rivals. 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. "Its just a number at the end of the day, I dont get too caught up with it to be honest with you.". Once it happened, it was almost kind of a relief, said Hendry. His five match wins during this edition took him to 74 Crucible victories, four more than one of other Hendrys few remaining records. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. 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. The age of professionalism in Scottish snooker came courtesy of a shy teenager who possessed a laser-like focus rarely witnessed before or since. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2011 Paul Hunter Classic - Adam Duffy, 12. He has played a partial schedule in 2021 and 2022, never making it past the second round of a tournament. Ronnie O'Sullivan 775th Century with superb fluke! Finishes Tournaments played: 3 Category Winner A. Career. @ronnieo147 pic.twitter.com/bCUnSqT2Z0. His seventh and final World Snooker Championship title in 1999 set a record for most of all timea record which he held solely until Ronnie OSullivan tied the record with his 2022 championship win. 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. - Hendry and Robertson not impressed with how some pros train, Hendry: O'Sullivan is the only player that doesnt speak to anyone. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. "Jimmy White would probably feel that even though he's not at the cutting edge any more, he's enjoyed the challenge of trying to stay within the game, and I've enjoyed the same challenge, but obviously Stephen didn't. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. 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 . 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. Corrections? He managed it in six minutes and there was an amusing moment at the end when he removed the sponsor logo from his waistcoat! Despite what he says about his cue action. pic.twitter.com/kkjnHt983m. They each joined the pro circuit the following year. Hendry changed the way snooker was played, ushering in a more attacking era and establishing records that took decades to be matched. Well worth a watch even for Ronnie fans! "You could still have business interests and still play, but he's chosen not to. Way back in 1993 at the age of 17 he became the youngest winner of a ranking event at the UK Championship, and 27 years on he's bagged a record-breaking 37th as the oldest Crucible champion since Reardon in 1978. 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. 1 ranking for a period in 2005. A ranking tournament is one that counts towards snooker's world rankings, which were introduced in the 1976-77 season. He competed in the World Amateur Championship that year, setting a record for being the youngest entrant ever.. 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. 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. '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. pic.twitter.com/K1gRIJLnz9, Mark Selby thought Ronnie O'Sullivan's cavalier approach to getting out of his snookers was disrespectful. 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. 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. Last updated on 2 May 20122 May 2012.From the section Snooker. The scene was vibrant. 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. 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. At 53, it is surely impossible for Hendry to recapture former glories. A ranking tournament is one that counts towards snooker's world rankings, which were introduced in the 1976-77 season. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. 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. Steve Davis says he cannot imagine anyone bettering Stephen Hendry's tally of seven World Championship titles. He practised with military discipline, watched over by his no-nonsense manager, Ian Doyle, and the rewards came quickly. Why Do Snooker Players Use Their Chins When Shooting. 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. Hendry had not even played the game before his parents bought him a half-sized table for Christmas in 1981. After the 1999 world championship, Hendrys fortunes faded once more. His tour card was subsequently renewed for another two seasons.. It takes too much time practicing getting out of snookers, I'd rather practice break building." 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. Updates? And just as the 2017 sequel to Trainspotting doesnt alter the majesty of the original, Hendrys stuttering comeback doesnt change any of that. All these matches are part of the process, and getting me comfortable in arenas again. Higgins, 47, continues to have a successful career at the top level with 31 ranking event victories to his name, including four world titles. MORE:Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. All rights reserved. He declared the match over when missing a red in frame six despite leading 24-0 at the time and although he later apologised to Hendry and his fans, O'Sullivan was fined 20,800 for his actions. 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. "But records are there to be broken. He had 24 hours to decide whether to take it and he could not resist. He is much older and less driven, and the game has moved on with far more players capable now of playing to a high standard. I'm sure you're as excited watching at home as we are here." Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. Even Neil Robertson is laughing by the end of the title-winning break. The groan of appreciation from Stephen Hendry accompanies it perfectly. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. Stephen Hendry proceeded to defend his title for the following four years. This is a shame as the audience at the Meadowbank Centre would surely love to salute him. But I'm not going to lie and say I did want him to equal that because I didn't., Stream top snooker action, including the Shoot Out, live on, 'Feels amazing' Higgins ends 13-month title drought by retaining Championship League crown, Zhao and Yan to miss World Championship ahead of match-fixing hearing. While his Triple Crown success dried up for a few years, O'Sullivan was still building his tally of ranking and non-ranking titles and it surely seemed just a matter of time before he'd finally go all the way on the biggest stage of all. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2000 Scottish Open v Quinten Hann, 5. Copyright 2017-2023 Rookie Road Inc. All rights reserved. Enjoy. 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. I can't explain it. O'Sullivan returned to the sport just in time for the Masters after a near eight-month hiatus in which he decided to defend his UK Championship title in December 2015. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. Ronnie OSullivan is the greatest snooker player of all time. He also talks about whether it was extra motivation pic.twitter.com/n58nxPeGaK. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. Tai Chengzhe/Visual China Group via Getty Images. The circuit currently boasts only eight Scottish professionals. He had pushed his career earnings past 6.2 million (about $10 million) and by November had reclaimed his number one ranking. Technically, the most successful player at the world championship is. He turned professional the following year, and when he won the Grand Prix in 1987, he became the youngest player to win a tournament. Then a week or so afterwards, I was like, OK, he's got the mantle now to live up to. There have been as many as 20 rankings tournament in a single season in recent years. "I would say no, because there are so many great players competing against each other to win every tournament," he told BBC Sport. Earlier breaks of 116 and 105 had moved OSullivan onto 999 and any speculation that he would wait for the World Championship to reach a thousand was ended with a sumptuous 134. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan jointly hold the record for the most World Snooker Championship titles with seven. Article bookmarked. 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. By the end of the Millennium, the legendary Scotsman had completed his haul of 18 Triple Crowns, which were all compiled since 1989 and included five UK Championships and six Masters crowns, while hed only win a further four ranking titles so hes had over 20 years of watching his milestones being eroded away. In typical fashion, the 100th point of his 1000th century was secured left-handed, and O'Sullivan - to continued, rapturous applause - went on to clear the table fully, even the white finding its way to the pocket to deny what would've been a 141. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2007 Northern Ireland Trophy - Ali Carter, 8. 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. 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. His comeback was much anticipated but has been largely underwhelming. It is unclear if Hendry will be offered another wild card to continue playing or if he will accept it. Some were more successful than others but they became regular faces on the circuit. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. Top 5 Ranked Men's Snooker Players Of All Time. Just by being here as world number one no less the Romford man was setting a record for most consecutive Crucible appearances with 30, a tally that is level with Steve Davis overall record. Twelve months earlier, the Rocket hit the headlines for the wrong reasons at the Barbican when forfeiting his quarter-final against Stephen Hendry when trailing 4-1 in the first to nine frames. 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. 1 spot in the world rankings for the first time. As an added bonus, here's how he equalled Stephen Hendry's century break record of 775 against Ricky Walden Ronnie O'Sullivan's incredible career in numbers, RONNIE O'SULLIVAN WINS HIS SIXTH WORLD SNOOKER TITLE AT THE CRUCIBLE, Ronnie O'Sullivan wins UK Championship 1993, B&H Masters 1995 Final: Ronnie O'Sullivan Vs John Higgins Part 2, SNOOKER UK CHAMP 1997 final O`Sullivan vs Hendry part 2, Stephen Hendry 147 v Ronnie O'Sullivan Decider Charity Challenge 1997, 2001 World Snooker Championship Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs John Higgins, 2004 World Snooker Championship Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Graeme Dott Session 4 (BBC), 2005 Snooker the Masters Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs John Higgins Frame 9-13, DECIDER O'Sullivan v Selby SF 2007 UK Championship, 2007 Snooker UK Championship Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Stephen Maguire Frame 9-12, Ronnie's 147 v Williams at the 2008 World Championship, 2008 World Snooker Championship Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Ali Carter Frame 21-24, 2009 Snooker The Masters Final Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Mark Selby Frame 13-18, Ronnie O'Sullivan v Ali Carter 2012 World Championship, Amazing 2013 World Championship Final | O'Sullivan - Hawkins, Selby v O'Sullivan FINAL FRAME 2014 Masters HD1080p. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2014 Welsh Open - Ding Junhui, 13. The result gained revenge from losing a deciding frame in that year's Charity Challenge final, in which Hendry scored an iconic maximum break. 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. In his Masters quarter-final against Marco Fu, Ronnie O'Sullivan fired in his 776th career century, taking him one . 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. In contrast, OSullivan has won his Crucible crowns over more than two decades, with his first coming in 2001 and his latest in 2022. Maybe not that night, because there's still a little bit of sadness that he equalled my record. Hendry has the longest unbeaten streak in ranking tournament play, winning 36 consecutive matches in 1990 and 1991. O'Sullivan set up another instalment of his budding rivalry with Mark Selby after beating Joe Perry (6-5), Ali Carter (6-2) and Stephen Maguire (6-1) and he'd edge another titanic tussle between the pair 10-8 to claim his fourth Masters title. Growing up, he also spent time living in Edinburgh and Fife. 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. This maximum in an exhibition against Reanne Evans last year is also well worth a watch. At the age of 17 years and 358 days he became the youngest ever winner of a ranking event and that record still stands. 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. Unlike White or even Davis, he did not play for the pure love of snooker but because of an obsession with being the best. 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. The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. 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. believes Hendry's achievements mark him out as the stand-out player in the sport's history. Stephen Hendry: "Are you saying another record of mine is going? Ronnie O'Sullivan roof raising moment part 6567676: The way he scores the 100th point of his 1000th century. Stephen . Tied at 42 pints apiece, Sinclair hit the deck and Werbeniuk went to the bar for a celebratory beer. But why is that? Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2008 World Championship - Mark Williams, 10. Stephen Hendry, (born January 13, 1969, Edinburgh, Scotland), Scottish snooker player who won a record seven world titles and dominated the game throughout the 1990s. Evans slams 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat claims world title. 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. Selby clinched his fourth triumph this . He'd previously brushed aside Dott (6-3), Ding Junhui (6-2) and Jimmy White (6-1) as he continued to dazzle the crowds. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 1999 Grand Prix v Graeme Dott, 4. 'One from the archives' - Hendry makes fantastic brown to win frame, 'That is the Hendry we remember well!' "One thing you never stop missing as a sportsman is the buzz you get from a crowd. Ronnie O'Sullivan - 2003 World Championship - Marco Fu, 7. I'm enjoying the process.". He was employed on a lucrative contract promoting cue sports in China and enjoyed punditry and leisure time spent playing golf, but nothing can compare with the thrill of competition. In recognition of his excellence in the sport, Hendry was knighted, receiving a MBE recognition in 1994. 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. Following the 1996 world championship, Hendrys play slipped. Stephen Maguire became UK champion in 2004 and currently has six ranking titles to his name. MORE:Is Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker's GOAT? Hendrys seven world titles all came during his dominant spell in the 1990s, which also included eight consecutive seasons as world No. The Scot finished as the year-end rankings leader for eight seasons in a row from 1989/90 to 1996/97. At 20, he captured the Masters and UK Championship, and at 21 was crowned the youngest ever world champion. Omissions? 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. Graeme Dott, raised on the Easterhouse estate in Glasgow often associated with social decay, demonstrated his iron toughness by becoming world champion in 2006. It was the eighth maximum of his career and he followed it up by thrashing Stephen Maguire 10-2 for his fourth UK title. All rights reserved. There are some young prospects in Scotland, but not in the numbers of 30 years ago. Ronnie's reply"I'm never going to be good at getting out of snookers. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. 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. At the moment it is about trying to get back to playing some good snooker.". Perhaps it had to if he was to avoid serious burnout. The Scot, who dropped out of the elite top 16 earlier this season and is currently ranked 23, admitted having to qualify for this year's World Championship for the first time since 1988 "was not a nice feeling". The prodigious talent underlined his rich potential in emphatic fashion at just his second UK Championship by beating Ken Doherty, Steve Davis and Darren Morgan before defeating Stephen Hendry, who'd already won three world titles, two UK crowns and five successive Masters by this time, 106 in the final. Hendry, 43, retired on Tuesday after a 13-2 quarter-final defeat by Stephen Maguire ended his 27th consecutive appearance at the Crucible.