He has also achieved a number of other records, including the fastest maximum break in history (5 minutes and 20 seconds). 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. 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. However, he won six of the eight frames available in the afternoon to reduce OSullivans cushion to three frames. Ronnie OSullivan rockets ahead of error-strewn Judd Trump in final. It won't take up space on your phone. There were so many 70 titles in total that we had to settle on just a dozen. If there were any doubts remaining about OSullivans status as the greatest of all-time, they may now finally have been removed. He is just supreme in all departments.. 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. "He's a winning machine. He must have been born with a block of chalk in his mouth.". O'Sullivan, 46, becomes the. Our mission is to keep sports enthusiasts informed and up-to-date on the latest happenings in the world of sports. Reardon told BBC Radio Devon O'Sullivan is "incredible". 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. It is that the greatest player of all time is doing all this, and many other nonchalant tricks and flicks, with his shoelaces untied. It only solidified the image of Hendry as snookers Terminator: a cold-blooded destroyer even with one arm barely functioning. A ranking tournament is one that counts towards snooker's world rankings, which were introduced in the 1976-77 season. Hendry is an absolute legend of the game. They have both left a lasting legacy on the sport, inspiring many young players to take up snooker. Yet after Hendrys seventh and final world title in 1999, something changed. . I just wasnt in the right frame of mind at all. And Stephen Hendry, the look on his face and Jan Verhaas face, thinking what do we do know? Nevertheless, O'Sullivan was in fine form when reflecting on his underwhelming display, heaping praise on his opponent. He continued: 'I'm going to enjoy a holiday and go away soon. 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? It depends what frame of mind he's in. 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. "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. '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. 2022 - Ronnie O'Sullivan. TRENDING. Ronnie O'Sullivan is looking to win a record-breaking eighth world title to take himself beyond the great Stephen Hendry. Gleyber Torres: The Rising Star of the New York Yankees. 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 . I always have people shouting miss underneath their breath when Im right on the shot and stuff like that, Hendry told me, before saying: Ive had a lot of success there, so I cant say it put me off.. 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. 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. Exclusive: OSullivan weighs in on Selby Snooker GOAT debate, World Championship final - Latest scores, results, schedule, order of play as Brecel takes on Selby. Arguably O'Sullivan 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. I have played snooker for a long time and I've not seen anyone hit the ball as good, he just whips through it. 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. The 47-year-old equalled Stephen Hendry's record. (modern). 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. 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. It is not just that Maradona pogos up and down with the ball seemingly glued to his head. However, his time will have to wait for at least one more year. You've got to have a perspective on things and sometimes you have to take the rough with the smooth is it?'. Absolutely. In the past fortnight there has been a lot of talk about the Class of 92 OSullivan, Higgins and Mark Williams. 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. 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. 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. 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 . The Belgian, who beat seven-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan in the previous round, accumulated 916 points to Si's 179 between the 20th and 30th frames of the match. 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. in the final last week to clinch his sixth title and draw level with his former coach Reardon and Steve Davis. Inevitably it means there is a recency bias towards OSullivan when the topic of the greatest comes up. For more information, please see our 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%. (10) 8 26 & 27 April Stephen Maguire (SCO) 10 Stephen Maguire 5 18 April Ronnie O'Sullivan (2) 13 Mark . 'The Rocket', who is. I'm sure he won't be happy until he's done that. I was having a lot of problems at home, with my family life, Ronnie told Eurosport. 5 Ways to Connect Wireless Headphones to TV. In the modern. All rights reserved. (modern). Ronnie O'Sullivan won a record seventh World Snooker Championship crown after beating Judd Trump 18-13 in the final here on Monday. [10] All qualifying matches were played in a block from June to September 1992 in the Norbreck Castle in Blackpool. I'll start my running again tomorrow, which I'm looking forward to. Be the first to read breaking news, the best sports coverage & top entertainment stories. I wanted to play but obviously there was a lot of stuff going on in my head that was upsetting really. 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. I didnt even want to be near a snooker table but I had to go and play because its work. It was . 1) Press the share button on your browser's menu bar. 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. World Championships: Stephen Hendry - 7 (9 finals) Ronnie O'Sullivan - 5 (6 finals) UK Championships: Stephen Hendry - 5 (10 finals) Ronnie OSullivan is aiming to win a seventh world title. He is one of the most natural talents the game has ever seen, and he can make difficult shots look easy. 'Alright he can miss a few, but when you hit the ball like that why wouldn't you go for them shots? Or that he effortlessly juggles the ball on his knees while jogging before upping the ante by then bouncing it repeatedly off alternate shoulders. At the age of just 17, O'Sullivan caused a sensation by beating Hendry in the 1993 UK Championship final. Either way, OSullivan has a rare knack of making the ball dance to his tune, just like El Diego. It starts by pointing out that no one else in the modern era can hold a cue to what Hendry did in the 1990s, when he ruled the sport and was the youngest world champion in history at 21. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. Ronnie O'Sullivan plays down the achievement of equalling Stephen Hendry's record of seven world titles. 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. In an interview with Donald McRae on these pages in 2018 he admitted that, when he began to socialise with the other players, it affected his invincibility although he attributed his decline more to a serious version of a golfers yips, which began in 2000. OSullivan pulled it back to 8-8. 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. Ranking the game's top five players in history, including World Championship stars. Discovery company. Summary. He was a master of the safety game, and he could often force his opponents into mistakes. Had Trump claimed that first frame and clawed it back to two, maybe OSullivans nerves would have frayed. 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. 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. We hear a lot of talk about the benefits of home advantage in sport but Hendry usually had the crowd against him and worse. Their first meeting was in 1993, and their most recent meeting was in 2019. 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. The Soccer Teams Luca Brecel and Si Jiahui played 1 Games up to today. Read about our approach to external linking. I am not quite there yet. 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. The compliments, you can't give him enough the way he's played here.". Outrageous double sees OSullivan snatch key frame. 1992 - Stephen Hendry. Ronnie O'Sullivan insists he is not chasing World Championship record The Scot has stormed into the Last Eight for the loss of just five frames, brushing aside David Grace 10-3 before completing a 13-2 demolition of Kyren . Stephen Hendry and Ronnie OSullivan have very different styles of play. 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. Ben Mertens vs Ronnie O'Sullivan Head to Head Record Welsh Open / 1:00 PM Thursday, February 16, 2023 Ben Mertens 0 Full Time 4 Ronnie O'Sullivan No data Ben Mertens vs Ronnie O'Sullivan Head to Head Overall Total Ben Mertens (W) Ronnie O'Sullivan (W) Total Matches 2 0 2 Total Sets 11 3 8 Welsh Open 1 0 1 English Open 1 0 1 Head to Head Record "As I said on the commentary, he's taken snooker to new heights. BBC commentators and presenters for 2022 World Snooker Championship. You cant predict what hes going to do OSullivan on how Brecel is beating Selby. I've got seven UKs, seven Masters, seven worlds. This was arguably his masterpiece in terms of runs to a world crown, with near-dominance from start to finish. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Stephen Hendry vs. Ronnie O'Sullivan - the statistics As the World Championship approaches, I thought I would compile a stats post on the two greatest players in the history of snooker. They have both dominated the sport during different eras, with Hendry dominating in the 1990s and OSullivan in the 2000s. 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. I'm actually surprised it's taken him so long to get to seven - that's how good he is! Xllaa Sports is a leading sports blog website that updates the latest sports news and events happening worldwide. The 47-year-old equalled Stephen Hendry's record seven world titles after beating Judd Trump 18-13 at the Crucible last year. 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan, 47, and Stephen Hendry dominated the game in their respective eras. Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 'The Rocket' says he is not driven by matching Stephen Hendry's record of seven titles after latest Crucible success. Stephen Hendry Played on 2008-11-20 Broadcast Match was broadcast Frame scores 53-60; 1-109 (108); 77 (67)-17; 37-73 (72); 94 (68)-36; 66-42 Match progress 0-1, 0-2, 2-1, 1-3, 3-2, 3-3 O'Sullivan Hendry Total 50+ Breaks 68, 67 108, 72 Points Scored 328 337 665 Avg. 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. O'Sullivan signed off his tournament in style despite a late comeback attempt from final foe Trump. 1991 - John Parrott. Stephen Hendry had a great run in the 90's and Ronnie. 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. If anyone tries to pick holes in that, good luck to you.'. Finely poised at 14-11 on Monday evening, OSullivan returned refreshed and revitalised for the final session. Do you think Ronnie O'Sullivan will go on to break the World Championship record? He was also ranked world number one for eight consecutive seasons. MX23RW : Saturday, April 29 01:36:01| >> :600:85119478:85119478: Barcelona vs. Betis: 17 hrs 23 mins. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Tai Chengzhe/Visual China Group via Getty Images. 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. Only player to make five centuries in a best of nine match. 'I've got a few things to look forward to in the summer. 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. It is hard to argue. Ronnie O'Sullivan is into a comfortable 6-2 lead over Luca Brecel after their World Championship quarter-final opening session, despite the Belgian making a thrilling start to the contest. I'm not as downbeat as everyone thinks I will be, I'm sorry if anyone gets offended by that. The match was a high-quality affair, with both players producing some incredible snooker. All rights reserved. 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. A complete record of competitive matches played between the two teams, This page lists the head-to-head record of Luca Brecel vs Si Jiahui including biggest victories and defeats between the two sides, and H2H stats in all competitions. RONNIE O'SULLIVAN'S World Snooker Championship win in 2022 has once again raised the debate over who is the greatest star in history. The only thing in my head was that I wanted to share the moment with my family. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie OSullivan have both achieved a lot in their careers. attributed his decline more to a serious version of a golfers yips. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won more ranking titles in snooker than any other player, just ahead of Stephen Hendry. 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. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie OSullivan have played many memorable matches against each other. One of their greatest matches was the 2002 World Championship final, which OSullivan won 18-14. Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan got his quest to claim a record eighth world crown underway with a hard fought 10-7 win over debutant Pang Junxu. Design The 47-year-old was left stunned in his seat on . Barcelona boss Xavi . He will go down to the best player of all-time, he said. "He's the most natural thing you'll ever see. 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 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. 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. 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. Their head-to-head record is one of the most closely contested in the history of snooker, with both players winning many memorable matches against each other. Snooker legend Ray Reardon says fellow six-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan can move beyond Stephen Hendry's record total of seven titles. Hendry was known for his consistency and his ability to grind out wins even when he wasnt playing his best. It is that the greatest player of all time is doing all this, and many other nonchalant tricks and flicks, with his shoelaces untied. Among them, Luca Brecel won 1 games . Vafaei had been . The seemingly inevitable came to pass on Monday when 'The Rocket' fired to an 18-13 final win over Judd Trump in Sheffield. Gibraltar Open 2022 - How to watch as Trump eyes third title, Age winning first ranking title: 17 (1993 UK Championship) 18 (1987 Grand Prix), Age winning first world title: 25 (2001 World Championship) 21 (1990 World Championship), Age winning last ranking title: 46 (2021 World Grand Prix) 36 (2005 Malta Cup). 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. Ronnie O'Sullivan matches Stephen Hendry's record of seven world titles; O'Sullivan beats Judd Trump 18-13 in Crucible final; Emotional O'Sullivan hugs Trump after victory Speed Records Fastest 147 - five minutes and eight seconds at the 1997 World Championship. The match was a classic, with both players showing their immense skill and determination. Everyone knows what happened then. That was a staggering enough feat. OSullivan wins World Snooker Championship final 18-13, Seventh title equals Stephen Hendrys record. 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 . 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. What is the prize money at the 2022 World Snooker Championship? But anyone who understands snooker can appreciate that this moment, a seventh world title to draw level with Stephen Hendry and tie the modern-era record, is the one thing which will mean so much since he first lifted the trophy aloft inside the Crucible 21 years ago. Selby was one of the favourites coming into the tournament and he has backed that up with wins The Belgian Bullet produced a coming-of-age performance to stun an out-of-sorts Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals, defeating the reigning champion 13-10 having begun the third session four frames adrift. With this title, O'Sullivan has equalled Stephen. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie OSullivan are two of the greatest snooker players of all time. Ronnie OSullivan beats Judd Trump 18-13 in World Snooker Championship final live! If hes got problems, I feel for him.. Since then Stephen Hendry (1995, 2009, 2012) and Ronnie O'Sullivan (1997, 2003, 2008) have bagged three apiece, including the Rocket's mesmerising clearance in just five minute and eight. 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. . 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2002 at the Crucible. "He's the best player I've ever seen in my life, including Hendry, Davis and many others of the past," added Welshman Reardon, 87. . 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. I was happy to just make a match out of it this afternoon.. He's just been wonderful. And Hendry did all this despite never being a darling of the masses, like the Rocket or Whirlwind. RONNIE O'SULLIVAN'S World Snooker Championship win in 2022 has once again raised the debate over who is the greatest star in history. And the 46-year-old, who reeled off breaks of 71 and 126 in . It is not just that Maradona pogos up and down with the ball seemingly glued to his head. Ray Reardon left coached O'Sullivan for two years from 2004. Murphy, Acua power Braves past Mets 9-8 in DH opener . 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.". [178] They had last met at the Crucible in . He was that dominant. The crowd have had a good time. OSullivan is a genius. . Watch on BBC, Eurosport, Discovery+, and more O'Sullivan's 102 in the sixth frame was his 200th century at the Crucible. As the World Championship approaches, I thought I would compile a stats post on the two greatest players in the history of snooker.