Stephen Hendry makes opinion clear on Ronnie O’Sullivan breaking his snooker record
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry are both seven-time World Snooker champions and time is running out for the Rocket to go clear.
Stephen Hendry has candidly revealed his feelings about the possibility of Ronnie O'Sullivan surpassing his record of seven World Snooker titles. The titans of the table are currently tied following O'Sullivan's emotional victory at the 2022 World Championship.
O’Sullivan’s attempts to go out on his own have hit the buffers in the last two years with quarter-final exits to Luca Brecel and Barry Hawkins. During an interview with Andy Goldstein on his own Cue Tips YouTube show, Hendry, 55, admitted to sending Hawkins a love heart emoji after his victory over the 48-year-old icon.
On how often he is asked about O’Sullivan winning an eighth world title, Hendry said: “A lot.” He added: "No, listen, I'm not going to lie. I won't be happy if he does it.
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"But he's an unbelievable player and he's taken the game to new levels. In a way, it will take the pressure off, I won't get asked anymore."
With the competition fierce and time not on his side, O'Sullivan's window to outdo Hendry is narrowing. The Scot, who retired earlier this year, notes that the once-dominant force doesn't quite have the competitive edge he once did. Hendry, who won the last of his seven Crucible titles in 1999, said: "His unbelievable performances are fewer and far between now.
"I don't think he's got the same competitive juices that he had. But the Worlds, I think he'll be up for it. The Masters, he'll be up for it. But to me, it doesn't look like he's desperate to win."
O'Sullivan has suggested the same himself, switching to playing left-handed at the recent Saudi Arabia Masters, where he made it to the quarter-finals. He told Eurosport during the tournament: "I've had no feel for over two years now so it's been really difficult to get any enjoyment from it.
"It's been tough so I decided to just start playing a bit left-handed because it frees me up a bit. I enjoy playing then and can actually practice. Anything to get my cue out the case and when I go in the match I've got to try and do whatever I can to compete.
"It's not pretty, it's not good, I'm not flowing but what can you do? You've just got to go with what you've got."
