April 29th 1990 saw Stephen Hendry, aged 21, become the youngest world snooker champion by beating Jimmy White 18-12 in the final.
Nicknamed “The Golden Boy” or “The wonder Bairn” Hendry set many records during his career, and most of them still stand. Stephen won a record 36 ranking and 79 titles in all (from 115 finals). Ronnie O'Sullivan has also won 36 ranking tournaments
He has won a record seven World championships, six Masters and five UK championships. After surpassing Steve Davis in 1990 he was the No. 1 player in the rankings until 1998. In 2006 he regained the top spot. Hendry became the first player to make more than two tournament 147s. His first was made in the 1992 Matchroom League and his second in the 1996 World Championship The record-breaking third maximum came on 25 Nov 1995 in the UK Championship. In total he score 11 maximums in tournament play, second only to, yes that man again O'Sullivan.
Stephen made seven centuries in the final of the 1994 UK Championship which is a record in a professional match. He also became the first player ever to make five centuries in seven frames. He won five successive World Championship titles and 36 consecutive matches in ranking tournaments. That’s the longest unbeaten run ever. The records continue he holds the record for most tons by one player in a tournament. He made 16 centuries during the 2102 World Championship.
Stephen Hendry announced his retirement from snooker after a heavy 13-2 defeat by fellow Scot Stephen Maguire at the Crucible. He looked out of sorts against Maguire in a one-sided World Championship quarter-final, said he made the decision three months beforehand It brought to an end his record 23 consecutive seasons in the top 16 of the world rankings. Even though he was unhappy with his standard of play, it has to be remembered during his fire match at the Crucible that year, he still managed to rattle in his 11 maximum break.
I wonder how long before Stephen hangs up his cue once more, he is mere shadow of the player he once was.
In April last year, Hendry's invitational tour card was renewed for a further two seasons, despite complaints from some players and concerns from snooker's governing body about his limited participation on the tour. His 2022–23 season began with a 0–5 whitewash by Mark Joyce in qualifying for the 2022 European Masters,[87] and a 1–4 defeat to Zhang Anda in qualifying for the 2022 British Open.
His season concluded in the first qualifying round of the 2023 World Snooker Championship with a 4–10 defeat to his ex-wife's nephew James Cahill, after which Hendry said he still had "a very distant dream" that he would one day compete at the Crucible again. Really? I very much doubt that he will ever win a tournament again, let alone at the Crucible.
Meanwhile the record I have highlighted today is under threat, Chinese player Jiahui S., is 5-3 up in his semi final match against the Belgian player Luca Brecel.
