Stephen Hendry has opened up about his long-standing rivalry with Ronnie O’Sullivan, as the 2 stay tied with seven world titles apiece.
Stephen Hendry nonetheless backs Ronnie O’Sullivan to interrupt their document (Picture: George Wooden, Getty Pictures)
Stephen Hendry has confessed he feels a way of reduction every time Ronnie O’Sullivan exits the World Snooker Championship, guaranteeing their shared document on the Crucible stays intact. The enduring Scottish participant and the Rocket each boast seven world titles apiece, although O’Sullivan continues his quest to say an outright document with an unprecedented eighth crown 12 months after 12 months.
Together with his most up-to-date success in Sheffield arriving 4 years in the past, the event has proved unkind to O’Sullivan in latest occasions. He suffered quarter-final defeats in 2023 and 2024, whereas he fell to Zhao Xintong within the semi-finals finally 12 months’s occasion – the Chinese language sensation who subsequently claimed the title. This 12 months, nonetheless, he was eradicated by John Higgins within the second spherical, enduring a good 13-12 defeat.
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Whereas snooker fans throughout the globe may have been hoping for a profession revival, Hendry acknowledges he held a moderately totally different viewpoint. Talking on his Cue Suggestions YouTube channel, he was posed the query: “Be sincere, Stephen, did you are feeling a way of reduction after Ronnie’s exit to John Higgins?”
To which, with a broad grin throughout his face, he responded: “In fact I did. I even have a slight feeling that Ronnie will do it (win an eighth title). I do not know why as a result of it is clearly going to get tougher for him on a regular basis. There’s so many good gamers now, and at 50, what number of extra years has he received to win it?
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In the meantime, O’Sullivan has wasted no time in heading straight again to the Crucible Theatre to compete within the World Seniors Championship for the very first time. The 50-year-old has impressed within the event, which is open to gamers aged 40 and above.
He received off to a flying begin with a 4-1 victory over Ken Doherty, earlier than following it up with a 4-2 triumph towards Paul Strains. A commanding 7-5 win over Robert Milkins then sealed his place in Sunday’s remaining.
There, he’ll face Joe Perry in a battle for the title and a good-looking £30,000 winner’s prize. This isn’t the one event this week that Hendry has commented on O’Sullivan’s exploits, nonetheless.
The pair are good buddies (Picture: Getty)
The 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999 world champion additionally weighed in on the Englishman’s alternative to make use of Triangle Chalk throughout play, echoing Neil Robertson’s view that it should be banned owing to the mess it creates. He defined: “That was one other large speaking level, the chalk – chalk-gate,” including: “Ronnie utilizing Triangle Chalk when everybody else is utilizing these items,” as he held up his personal chalk for comparability.
He stated: “Stops kicks, stops bounces, there isn’t any marks on the fabric. Neil Robertson truly referred to as for World Snooker to ban it, which I do not disagree with if I am sincere. I feel it spoils the sport as a spectacle.
“I do know John Higgins, when he was enjoying Ronnie, he was smiling quite a bit – type of wry smiles. [He was] continuously getting the cue ball cleaned, continuously wiping the desk. I do suppose there is a slight name, presumably, for it to be banned. However whether or not they might go down that route, I do not know.”
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