#1995 World Snooker Championship

[scotianostra]

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.

Last month he decided against entering this years World s he felt that were was too much else going on off the table for him at the moment.Championship. Stephen is currently part of the tour courtesy of a two-year invitational card that was given to him at the start of the 2022-23 season. However, he has endured a barren campaign, with no wins from five matches so far.

What is still unclear is whether Hendry's invitational card is going to be renewed by the World Snooker Tour, and whether he even wants it to be having not played that regularly over the past two seasons.

[britishsportinglegends]

Stephen Hendry.

[all-hail-mono-onion]

RA RA RASPUTIN LOVER OF THE RUSSIAN QUEEN

The World Snooker Championship is an annual cue sport tournament and is the official world championship of the game of snooker.[1] The sport of snooker was founded in the late 19th century by British Army soldiers stationed in India.[2] The sport originated by players from the United Kingdom, and later players from Europe and the Commonwealth. In more modern times, the sport has transferred to being played worldwide, especially in East and Southeast Asian nations, such as China, Hong Kong and Thailand.[3]

The world championship sees 32 professional and qualified amateur players compete in one-on-one snooker matches in a single elimination format, each played over several frames. The 32 players for the event are selected through a mix of the world snooker rankings, and a pre-tournament qualification round.[4][5] The first world championship in 1927 was won by Joe Davis, the final being held in Camkin's Hall, Birmingham, England.[6][7] Since 1977, the event has been held in the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.[8]

Stephen Hendry is the most successful player in the modern era, having won the championship 7 times.[9] The previous year's championship was won by Wales' Mark Williams, who won the event defeating Scotland's John Higgins in the final 18–16.[10][11] This was Williams' third championship, having won in 2000 and 2003 previously. The winner of the 2019 event earns prize money of £500,000, from a total pool of £2,231,000.[12]

Format

The 2019 World Snooker Championship was held between 20 April and 6 May 2019 in Sheffield, England. The tournament was the last of twenty rankings events in the 2018/2019 season on the World Snooker Tour. It featured a 32-player main draw to be played at the Crucible Theatre, as well as a 128-player qualifying draw which took place at the English Institute of Sport from 10 to 17 April 2019, finishing three days prior to the start of the main draw. This was the 43rd consecutive year that the tournament was held at the Crucible, and the 51st consecutive year the championship was contested through the modern knockout format.[4][5]

The top 16 players in the latest world rankings automatically qualified for the main draw as seeded players.[a] Defending champion Mark Williams was automatically seeded 1st overall. The remaining fifteen seeds were allocated based on the latest world rankings (revision 10), which were released following the China Open, the penultimate event of the season. Matches in the first round of the main draw were played as best of 19 frames. The number of frames needed to win a match increased with each successive round, leading up to the final match which was played as best of 35 frames.[4][5]

All 16 non-seeded spots in the main draw were filled with players from the qualifying rounds. The qualifying draw consisted of 128 players, including 106 of the remaining 112 players on the World Snooker Tour, as well as twenty-two wildcard places allotted to non-tour players. These invited players included the women's world champion, the European junior champion, and all four semi-finalists at the amateur championship. As with the main draw, half of the participants in the qualifying draw were seeded players. Players ranked from 17th to 80th were allocated one of 64 seeds in order of their ranking, while all of the other participants were placed randomly into the draw. To reach the main draw at the Crucible, players needed to win three best of 19 frame matches.[13][4]

Participant summary

Eight former world champions participated in the main tournament at the Crucible. They were Ronnie O'Sullivan (five titles: 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013), John Higgins (four titles: 1998, 2007, 2009, 2011), Mark Selby (three titles: 2014, 2016, 2017), Mark Williams (three titles, and defending champion: 2000, 2003, 2018), Shaun Murphy (one title: 2005), Graeme Dott (one title: 2006), Neil Robertson (one title: 2010), and Stuart Bingham (one title: 2015).[4] This was O'Sullivan's 27th consecutive appearance in the final stages of the World Championship since his debut in 1993, equalling Stephen Hendry's 27 consecutive appearances, and three short of Steve Davis's record of 30 total appearances. Four other former world championship finalists also competed: Ali Carter (twice: 2008 and 2012), Judd Trump (once: 2011), Barry Hawkins (once: 2013), and Ding Junhui (once: 2016).[13][4] The youngest player to participate in the main stage of the tournament was Luo Honghao at 19 years of age,[14] while 46-year-old Mark Davis was the oldest; both players entered the main draw through qualifying.[15]

Three former world champions participated in the qualifying rounds: Ken Doherty (1997), Peter Ebdon (2002) and Graeme Dott. Of these, only Dott succeeded in qualifying for the main tournament at the Crucible. Also, four former world finalists participated in the qualifying rounds: Jimmy White (six times: 1984 and 1990–1994), Nigel Bond (once: 1995), Ali Carter, and Matthew Stevens (twice: 2000 and 2005).[13][4] Of these, only Carter qualified for the main tournament at the Crucible.[13]

Tournament summary

Qualifying rounds

James Cahill

became the first-ever amateur to qualify for the World Championship main stage at the Crucible.

The top sixteen seeds automatically qualified for the main competition.[4] The defending champion Mark Williams is seeded first, whilst other seeds are allocated based on the world rankings following the 2019 China Open.[4] All the other players competed in the preliminary qualifying rounds, and were required to win three best-of-19 matches to reach the finals.[4]

The qualifying rounds took place at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield from 10 to 17 April 2019, with 16 players progressing to the finals. 128 players competed in the qualifying stage, including those tour players not automatically qualified for the main competition and invited amateurs.[16]

James Cahill became the first amateur player ever to qualify for the Crucible main stage of the World Championship, defeating fellow amateur Michael Judge 10–6 in the third qualifying round.[17] Seven players – the highest number since 1999 – made it through the qualifying rounds to make their debuts at the main stage of the tournament. Besides Cahill, they were Scott Donaldson, Michael Georgiou, Li Hang, Luo Honghao, Tian Pengfei and Zhao Xintong.[18] 2006 World Champion Graeme Dott and two-time finalist Ali Carter also qualified for the main stage.[18]

First round

The draw for the first round of the championship was made on 18 April 2019, the day after the conclusion of the qualifying rounds and two days before the start of the main event; the matches were drawn by World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn, and 1991 World Champion John Parrott.[19] The first round of the championship took place from 20-25 April 2019. Each first round match was played over two sessions as best-of-19-frames.[20]

Top half

The tournament began with defending champion Mark Williams (seeded 1) drawing Martin Gould.[21][22] Gould took the first frame of the match, with a break of 64, before Williams won the next five with breaks of 55, 54 and 129 to lead 5–1.[23] Gould won both frames 7 and 8, before Williams took the final frame of the session with a break of 97 to lead 6–3.[23][24] The second session was also played on the opening day of the event. In frame 10, Williams opened up a lead, before Gould made a clearance to force a respotted black, but it was Williams who potted the black to lead 7–3.[25] Gould won frame 11, to trail 4–7, before Williams won the next two frames to go ahead 9–4.[24] Gould fought back with breaks of 70, 87 and 76, to trail 7–9, before Williams won the match 10–7, clinching a "nervy" 17th frame.[24] After his victory, Williams complained that World Snooker had not allowed his child backstage before the match, which the governing body denied.[26]

Shaun Murphy

(seeded 13) completed the second ever whitewash at the World Championship main stage at the Crucible.

Shaun Murphy drew event debutant Luo Honghao. The match would be only the second whitewash ever at the Crucible, and the first since John Parrott defeated Eddie Charlton in 1992, finishing 10–0.[27] Luo scored the lowest number of points scored in a World Championship match, scoring just 89 during the entire match, more than 100 points lower than the previous record low of 191 scored by Danny Fowler when he lost 1–10 to Stephen Hendry in 1993.[27] Neil Robertson met Michael Georgiou in the first round; Georgiou trailed 0–9 at the conclusion of the first session, having scored even fewer points than Luo in those frames. However, Georgiou won frame 10 on resumption of play in the second session with a break of 90, to avoid both the whitewash and low points total. Robertson later won 10–1.[27]

Fifth ranked John Higgins played Mark Davis, with Davis having defeated Higgins in six of the pair's last seven encounters.[28][29] Higgins gained a 6–3 lead after his initial session, before spending the night in Royal Hallamshire Hospital because his brother Jason had fractured his kneecap by falling down the stairs at the venue. Higgins then won the match the following day 10–7.[30]

Two former winners of the event, Graeme Dott (2006 winner) and Stuart Bingham (2015 winner), met in the first round of the competition. Bingham led 8–1 after the first session, and later 9–4, before Dott won five frames to level the match at 9–9. Bingham won the deciding frame after Dott missed a simple black ball shot.[31] Following the match, Dott stated that "serious sleeping problems" had caused him issues playing.[32]

Bottom half

Qualifier

Gary Wilson

won the longest ever World Championship frame at the Crucible in the first round decider against

Luca Brecel

.

The match between Gary Wilson and Luca Brecel, which featured a large amount of tactical play, had to be suspended when the afternoon session overran with Wilson leading 9–8.[33] When the match resumed in the evening, Brecel won frame 18 to send the match to a deciding frame. This frame first required a re-rack, then set the record for the longest frame ever played at the Crucible, at 79 minutes and 31 seconds.[b][33] After leading 6–3 overnight, Ding Junhui defeated Anthony McGill 10–7.[34]

Having lost in the first round eight times in his previous 15 appearances at the Crucible, Stephen Maguire played debutant Tian Pengfei. In frame 17, Maguire was 7–9 down and needed a snooker on the colours to stay in the match. He won a snooker on the blue, then missed a risky pot to a baulk corner, which he missed, but the blue hit the cue ball again and went into another baulk pocket, a shot later called "an outrageous fluke" by Maguire.[35] He added pink and black to steal the frame, and then took the next two frames to win 10–9.[36] Former three-time winner and world number 2 Mark Selby played debutant Zhao Xintong. Despite having been behind 1–5 after the first six frames, Selby won nine of the next eleven frames with two breaks of 131 to win 10–7.[15]

Amateur player James Cahill drew the world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan, who had been in the final of both Triple Crown events earlier in the season. Cahill took the final frame of the first session to lead 5–4, and took an 8–5 lead in the second session, before O'Sullivan tied the match up at 8–8.[37] Cahill made an early break in frame 17, but fell apart on a simple red; O'Sullivan simply needed the final pink and black to win the frame, but missed the pink, allowing Cahill to take the frame. Cahill won the match 10–8 with a break of 56 in the final frame.[38] The win was Cahill's second win over the first ranked player in the season, having defeated Mark Selby in the first round of the 2018 UK Championship earlier in the season.[39] O'Sullivan commented after the match that he had been unwell during the match, however former champion Ken Doherty accused O'Sullivan of "playing too casually".[40]

Second round

The second round of the championships was played between 25 and 29 April, with matches being competed over three sessions as best of 25 frames. The initial session of the match between Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson featured a maximum break attempt by Murphy.[41] With just the last two reds remaining, Murphy asked for the divider between the tables to be removed to allow all spectators to see the break attempt; however, Murphy would fail to finish the break.[42] Robertson won the initial three frames of the match, without Murphy attempting a pot, and led at both 5–3 and 10–6 after the first two sessions.[43] Robertson later won the first three frames of the final session to win 13–6.[44] Post match, Murphy called Robertson "just too good" and "unplayable".[44]

16th seeded

David Gilbert

defeated the defending champion

Mark Williams

in the second round. He went on to reach the semi-finals.

Defending champion Mark Williams played David Gilbert. After the first session, with Gilbert leading 5–3,[45] Williams stated that he had suffered chest pains post session.[46] He was taken to Northern General Hospital overnight, but returned for the second session of the match, the following day.[46] Williams later tied the match at 7–7, but trailed 7–9 after the second session.[47] Gilbert then won the first four frames of the final session to win 13–9.[48][49]

Amateur player James Cahill drew fifteenth seed Stephen Maguire. Maguire led 5–3 and 9–7 after the first two sessions.[50] Cahill took three of the first four frames in the third session to draw level at 10–10. Cahill then won frame 21, to take the lead for the first time in the match, with Maguire drawing level in the following frame.[51] Frame 23 saw both players miss shots, with Cahill looking to win the frame before being penalised for a waistcoat foul, and later going in-off from a cannon, allowing Maguire to take the frame. Cahill won frame 24, after Maguire missed a green ball by a wide margin.[52] In the deciding frame, Maguire won the match 13–12.[51][53]

Three-time champion Mark Selby played qualifier Gary Wilson, but trailed 3–5 after the first session, before winning four out of the first five frames in the second session to lead 7–6. Wilson, however won the remaining three frames of the session to lead 9–7.[45] Selby later tied the match at 10–10, before Wilson won the next three frames to qualify for the quarter-finals.[48][54] 2013 runner-up Barry Hawkins won the first four frames of his match with Kyren Wilson,[21] with the first session finishing 6–2 to Hawkins. Hawkins made four century breaks of 105, 130, 111, and 137 including a maximum break attempt.[42][55] Wilson also made a century break in frame 5, with four frames being won with a century in a row for the first time since Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry in 1999.[55] Wilson, however, won the second session of the match 5–3 to trail 7–9, before drawing level at 9–9 in the final session.[56] Despite Hawkins taking leads at 10–9 and 11–10, Wilson won the last three frames to progress, winning 13–11.[57] The match saw a record equalling 9 century break for a second round match at the world championships.[58]

Zhou Yuelong played Ali Carter in the only all-qualifier tie of the second round. Zhou took four of the first five frames to lead 4–1, then led after the first session 5–3, and held the lead at 9–7. On resuming the match in the final session, Carter won six straight frames to win 13–9.[57] Two former finalists, Judd Trump and Ding Junhui met in the second round. Trump lead 5–1, with Ding winning eight of the next ten frames to lead 9–7. Trump won the next 6 frames with breaks of 93, 79, 54 and 103 to win 13–9.[59]

Quarter-finals

The quarter-finals were played on 30 April and 1 May, and similar to the previous round, matches were played as best of 25 frames across three sessions. In an all-qualifier match, Ali Carter played Gary Wilson. Despite playing in his first world championship quarter-final, and losing the first three frames of the match, Wilson won five straight frames to lead 5–3 after the first session.[60] The pair shared the next session, with both players winning four frames, with Wilson leading 9–7 into the final session.[61] Carter won two of the next three frames, including a break of 128 to trail 9–10, with Wilson winning the next three to progress 13–9.[62][63] Post-match, Carter said "You have to take your hat off to [Wilson]. I did not think he could play that good," commenting that despite his low ranking of 32, Wilson "has to be the favourite to win it now, the way he has been playing."[60]

2019 Masters winner Judd Trump played 15th seed Stephen Maguire. Trump had won six straight frames to win his second round match against Ding Junhui, and won the first six frames of this match scoring breaks of 131, 67, 106, 78 and 101, to lead 7–1 after the first session.[64] In the second session, Trump looked set to win the match without needing to play the final session, extending his lead to 9–1, however, Maguire won four of the remaining frames to trail 5–11 by the end of the session. Trump won the match after just three frames of the final session 13–6.[65][66] Post-match, Maguire was fined for swearing in a press conference after commenting his performance was "shit".[65][67][66]

4th seed

Neil Robertson

, lost in the quarter-finals to

John Higgins

.

David Gilbert played Kyren Wilson. The two had met in the 2019 German Masters final earlier in the season, with Wilson winning the tournament 9–7.[68] The two players shared the opening session 4–4, and Gilbert won six of the eight frames in the second session to lead 10–6 overnight.[65] Wilson won two of the first three frames of the final session to trail 8–11, but Gilbert took the final two frames to win the match 13–8.[65][69]

Four-time world champion John Higgins played Neil Robertson. Robertson took an early 3–1 lead, but Higgins tied the match at 4–4. Robertson pulled away to 7–4, with Higgins winning five frames in a row to take a 9–7 lead.[65] Higgins won the match 13–10, after sharing the final session, with a century break of 101 in the final frame to win.[70][71]

Semi-finals

John Higgins

reached his third consecutive World Championship final, his career eighth.

The two semi-finals were played from 2 to 5 May, and were best-of-33-frame matches spread over four sessions. The first semi-final pitted four-time champion John Higgins against David Gilbert, who had never progressed past the second round previously.[72] Higgins took the first two frames of the match, with Gilbert tying the match at 2–2 with a break of 94.[73] Higgins led 3–2, before Gilbert won the next three frames, including a maximum attempt, potting 15 red balls, but failed a double on the black to lead 5–3.[73]

The second session saw Gilbert increase his lead to 8–3, by winning three more frames including a 125 break.[74] Gilbert was also ahead 56–17 in frame 12 but missed a frame-ball pink into the middle pocket, before Higgins cleared the table to trail 4–8. Higgins also won the next two frames with breaks of 67, 52 and 58 to trail 6–8.[74] Gilbert, however, won the final two frames of the session to lead 10–6.[75] Pundit John Virgo said "[Higgins] is not with it", with six-time champion Steve Davis calling Higgins' performance "ridiculous".[75]

On the return of the match for the third session, a member of the crowd was removed after just the break off shot in the initial frame, which was won by Gilbert to increase his lead to 11–6.[65] Higgins won two of the next three to stay at four frames behind at 12–8.[76]Frame 21 saw Higgins make a 143, the highest of the tournament, and the 86th tournament century break, tying the record for century breaks in one world championship, first set in 2015.[76] Gilbert won the next frame, falling short of a century, with a break of 91.[76]Despite this, Higgins won the final two frames of the session to trail 13–11.[77]

The final session saw Gilbert take frame 25, but Higgins won the next four frames to lead for the first time since leading 3–2 .[78] Gilbert won the next two frames, to lead 16–15, before Higgins scored a 139 break to send the match to a deciding frame at 16–16. The deciding frame was won by Higgins, after Gilbert missed the black ball from the spot.[78] Post-match, both men gave emotional press-conferences, with Gilbert commenting "I have never won anything, I have come close but this is the best couple of weeks I have had in my snooker career by a mile. It might be the closest I will come to winning the World Championship."[79] Higgins, however apologised for his poor play during the match, and bringing Gilbert "down to [Higgins]' level in the first three sessions."[80]

The second semi-final was played between Judd Trump and qualifier Gary Wilson. Trump and Wilson shared the opening session, 4–4, with Wilson later took the lead at 6–5, thanks to a break of 65. Trump won the next three frames with breaks of 73, 123 and 75 to lead 9–6 before Wilson scored a 77 to bring the score to 9–7 after two sessions.[81] The third session was "nervy" from both players.[82] Wilson won frame 17, with a break of 50.[83] However, Trump won the next three frames, including a break of 114, the 87th century of the championship, the most of all time at a world championship.[84] Wilson and Trump went into the final session with Trump 14–10 ahead.[63]

The final session of the semi-final saw Wilson win the first frame, but Trump won the remaining three frames to win 17–11.[85] Post-match, Trump suggested that despite appearing in the final, neither himself or Higgins had played particularly well.[86] World ranked 30, Wilson commented that "Judd deserved to win", but commented on the playing conditions being poor saying: "I wasn't good enough yesterday, but I've got to say that table is disgusting. It's running off all over the place, you're getting square bounces, kicks every other shot".[87][88]

Final

In a repeat of the

2011 World Championship

final,

Judd Trump

captured his maiden

World Championship title

. By doing so he also completed a career

Triple Crown

.

The final was played over four sessions, as a best of 35 frames match. The final was a repeat of the 2011 World Snooker Championship final, between John Higgins and Judd Trump, which Higgins won his fourth championship, winning 18–15.[70] Higgins defeated Mark Davis, Stuart Bingham, Neil Robertson and David Gilbert to reach the final, whilst Trump defeated Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, Ding Junhui, Stephen Maguire and Gary Wilson. In reaching the final, Higgins is competing in his third straight world championship final, having been defeated by Mark Selby in 2017, and Mark Williams in 2018. This was also Higgins' eighth final, one short of the record held by Stephen Hendry, having won four previously in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011.[89] This was Trump's second final, having only played in the 2011 defeat prior.[89]

The first session opened with the first two frames being won by Trump, with breaks of 51 and 63.[90] Higgins replied with a break of 139 to trail 1-2, before Trump scored a century of his own a 105 in frame 4. Brakes of 69, 34, 40 and 101 saw Higgins score 244 unanswered points and three frames on the bounce to lead 4-3.[90] Trump tied the match at 4-4 with a fourth century in the eight frames.[90] Post-session, Trump commented on the temperature of the arena, calling it too cold to which tournament officials denied.[91]

Frame 9 saw Higgins score a break of 125 to move to 5-4 ahead, the third century in a row for the match.[92] Trump won the remaining frames of the session, eight in a row, including breaks of 135 and 114.[93] Trump finished the session leading by seven frames overnight, leading 12-5. Six time champion Steve Davis commented on the session saying "I've seen some astonishing snooker here, a lot of it from Ronnie O'Sullivan, but that was a different type of astonishing. I am a little bit in shock. He is making a lot of very difficult shots seem very easy."[94]

The third session opened with a maximum attempt from Higgins, who potted 14 reds and blacks before running out of position for the red ball. Higgins played a full table double, but missed the following black. Higgins also won frame 19, to trail 7-12, but Trump would win the next three to extend his lead to 15-7.[95] Higgins won the following two frames, to prevent the match from being won a session early. Frame 23 saw Trump attempt a maximum break of his own, but overcut a red ball into the middle pocket.[95] Leading 16-9 going into the final session, Trump won the first two frames of the evening session to win 18-9.[96] The win was the biggest margin of victory since 2009, when Higgins defeated Shaun Murphy by the same score.[97]

With 11 centuries between them, the final set the record for the most 100+ breaks in one match, one more than the previous record held by Alan McManus and Ding Junhui in the semi-final of the 2016 event.[98]

[paddy-morgan]

Longevity is rare in professional sport

Paddy Morgan sits down with four-time World Snooker Champion John Higgins to reflect on his amazing career in snooker since turning professional in 1992.

John Higgins was talented grown up but did not realise that snooker could be his living until his late teenage years “I think it was when I was 15 when I won under 16 World Amateur Championship.”  Higgins rise in the amateur game was down to leaving his local town Wishaw to join a club in a main Scottish city “I moved into a snooker club in Glasgow and then went into Glasgow to play all the top boys.”  Higgins realised that he was good enough to make it as a professional in snooker after winning some of the biggest Pro-Am tournaments in Scotland, England and Ireland “in fact one over in Dublin when I was 15 I beat Ken Doherty in the final he was given me 10 points of a start I played him just off O’ Connell Street in the Mint Snooker club and managed to beat him in the final of one of the big Pro-Amsaround that time.”  Higgins finally turned professional when he was 17 years old.

Higgins impressed in his first year as professional as he reached the quarter-final of the British Open. He won his first professional tournament in 1994/1995 season after beating Dave Harold 9-6 in the final of the Grand Prix but 1998 was a significant year for the Scotsman as he won his first World Championship at the Crucible “I think it have to be when I won the World title for the first time and I think that was the realisation of all my dreams coming through.” Funny enough the Scotsman was drawn against his friend from his amateur days in 1998 final “I played Ken again and the Dubliner was hoping to defend the World Championship because he won it the previous year in 1997 but when I beat Ken in the final that was my ultimate dream.”  Higgins announced himself onto the big stage in sport after winning his first big tournament in 1998.

Higgins has won three more World Championship titles since his maiden win in 1997 and the Scotsman gives an insight into his practice in the run up to the Crucible “I would just put in a bit more time in the practice room and I would play a few more players.” Winning a World Championship at Crucible is like taking part in a marathon “matches at crucible are extreme with it been either the best of 19 or 25 frames to progress to the next round.”  This is a routine that Higgins does every year and has been successful due to winning four times at the Crucible “I would just play a few more matches I have always done that every year by try to sharpen yourself up before the biggest tournament in snooker.”  Practice is crucial to sharpen the mind before a big tournament regardless whether it’s the World Championship in snooker or The Masters in golf.

With snooker been an individual sport it is difficult to keep patient “it probably happened to me at the World Championship this year as it was only one of the handful times were I was losing to Ronnie O’ Sullivan 13-9.”  It was unlike Higgins to get frustrated especially playing in a semi-final of the World Championship at the Crucible “I was really getting down by the way I was playing and I missed a long red at the start of one frame.”  The Crucible is not a place were you let your frustrations get the better of you “I really wanted to smash my cue in and I was thinking that that I could not win this game playing like this.”  Higgins lost his 2022 World Championship semi-final by a score line of 17-11 to O’ Sullivan and possibly getting down on himself stopped the Scotsman from advancing to the final.

Professional sport is currently up in the air since the rise of potential European Super League in football and rise of LIV series in golf “Barry Hearn came back into the game in 2010 and he has managed to ramp the tournaments up by increasing prize money every year.”  Higgins revealed that most tournaments went ahead during covid-19 pandemic but missed out on travelling to International tournaments “most of our tour is in the far east but not managed to get out there due covid-19 pandemic but it has been a tough time in general.”  The world of sport has returned to normal in 2022 with full crowds at the biggest sporting events again which included the World Championship in Sheffield.

Higgins has really looked after himself in having a successful professional career that has lasted for over 30 years “I never really got too up or down in my whole career and I have always kept a steady level.”  Higgins has not lost his love for snooker in recent years “I have always enjoyed playing and touch wood I don’t have any physical issues like my eyes going by maybe wearing glasses.”  The Scotsman is still passionate about the professional game “I still love getting up most days but I don’t practice as much as I used to as I still put in a solid four hours of practice a day.”  It is remarkable that Higgins is still passionate as ever after 30 years in the professional game.

The Scotsman still has big goals which includes winning either the UK Championship in 2022 or winning the World Championship for a fifth time in 2023 “I would love to win another World Championship.”  Higgins has currently won 31 tournaments since turning professional and will like to overtake Stephen Hendry on 36 before The Wizard Of Wishaw hangs up his cue.

[risingpakistan]

Saleh Mohammad Snoker Champion

Saleh Mohammad (born 24 February 1973  is a amateur snooker player. He reached the final of the IBSF World Snooker Championship in 2003 and won two medals at 2002 Asian Games.

Life and career

He was born in Afghanistan, and moved to Pakistan and represented the country as a snooker player. He turned pro in 1995, but lost his place after just one season. In 2003 he reached the final of the IBSF World Snooker Championship, by winning 14 consecutive matches, but 5–11 against Pankaj Advani.  At the cue sports competitions of the 2002 Asian Games he won two bronze medals in doubles and team category. At the 2008 ACBS Asian Snooker Championship Mohammad compiled a maximum break against Nguyen Nhat Thanh. At the end of the same year he decided to retire in protest, because he "couldn’t bear such injustice where cricketers were showered with cash awards on normal victories" and he "wasn’t given anything." 

In 2012 he decided to move back to Afghanistan, and represented the country at the 2012 ACBS Asian Snooker Championship, reaching the quarter-finals, and the 2012 Six-red World Championship, reaching the last 32. 

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday snooker player John Higgins born on May 18th 1975 in Wishaw.

Higgins burst onto the snooker scene in the 1994/95 season, becoming the first teenager to win three ranking events in one season. For this he earned an amazing £283,970. 12 times more than he earned the previous season. the 1998 season he won the the first of his four World Championship and at the end of the season he received player of the Year award.

He has won 28 ranking titles, including three UK championships and two Masters titles, making him one of the most successful players in the modern history of the sport. His records include the first player to compile four consecutive century breaks in a major tournament: 103, 104, 138 and 128, in Preston 2005. He achieved the feat in the final of the 2005 Grand Prix, against Ronnie O'Sullivan, he is one of only five players to win both the World Championship and the UK Championship in the same year.

In September 2010, Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations made against him by UK newspaper News of the World. He admitted to bringing the game into disrepute though, by not reporting an approach to throw games. Because of this he was banned for six months, backdated to May 2010 when he was originally suspended. In addition he was fined £75,000.

This year Higgins made it to the quarter finals of the World Championship at the Crucible, going out to eventual champion Kyren Wilson 13-8 . He retained his place in the snooker elite top 16. Higgins has been an ever-present since 1995, but the former world No. 1's a remarkable 29-year run.

In February 2010, Higgins and his wife Denise appeared on ITV's Mr. and Mrs. and reached the final after answering 9 questions correctly out of 9 to win £30,000. They donated the money to The Dalziel Centre – a day hospice for cancer patients, based at Strathclyde Hospital in Motherwell, of which Higgins became a patron after they cared for his terminally ill father. In 2021 John helped out Craigneuk Amateurs AFC to help regenerate The Humph, a football pitch in the village of Craigneuk, where he grew up.

[wikitopx]

Gender: Female

Origin: English

Meaning: The Hazel Tree

[toc]

1. Meaning of the name "Hazel"

The name Hazel is a girl's name of English origin meaning "the hazelnut tree". Hazel is a name applied from the English hazel word, which refers to hazelnuts. This word is derived from the Old English of the same meaning.

Historically, a magic wand symbolized protection and authority. When Julia Roberts named one of her two Hazel twins in 2004, there was a huge public outcry against "one of the more attractive celebrity names".

But we didn't see why. Now that the old Hazel the Maid cartoon image has faded from view, we're left with a pleasantly hazy, brownish-green-eyed, old-fashioned image of Hazel we that more and more parents are choosing to share.

It re-entered the popularity lists in 1998 and now is near the top of the charts. In addition to being a recently chosen celebrity by Emily Blunt and John Krasninski, Hazel is a natural name, coming from the witch hazel.

Hazel was one of the botanicals that were all the rage at the turn of the twentieth century when it was in the Top 25, then fell out of favor, off the list completely from 1976 to 1998.

Hazel Motes is the protagonist of Flannery O'Connor's 1952 Wise Blood novel and in The Hunger Games, one of the characters is the variant Hazelle. But the most influential Hazel in recent years is the passionate heroine of Fault in Our Stars.

2. Haisley

Haisley spiked in popularity recently, helped in part no doubt by her adorable nickname Haze. She’s a modern pick with established roots, bringing the past to the present. Parents love this Irish gem meaning “hazel woods.”

3. Top 3 Famous Person Named Hazel

Hazel Court:

At the age of sixteen, Court met film director Anthony Asquith in London; the meeting won her a brief part in Champagne Charlie (1944). Court won the British Critique Award for the role of the lame girl in Carnival (1946) and also appeared in Holiday Camp (1947) and Bond Street (1948).

Court trained at the Rank Organisation's "charm school". She wanted to act in comedy films but also continued to appear in horror films and, in 1957, had what was to become a career-defining role in the first color Hammer Horror film The Curse of Frankenstein (1957).

Hazel Irvine:

Irvine began her broadcasting career in radio, before moving to work for Scottish Television in 1988 as a continuity announcer and latterly, as a sports reporter/presenter.

This led to slots on the national ITV network co-presenting coverage of the 1988 Olympics alongside Dickie Davies and presenting reports from the Scotland football team's training camp at the 1990 World Cup.

She joined the BBC in 1990, working as a presenter on BBC Scotland's Sportscene program and becoming the youngest-ever presenter of the BBC's flagship sports program Grandstand on 19 June 1993.

She also anchored BBC Scotland's coverage of Children in Need for ten years. In 1994, Irvine co-hosted the BBC's Hogmanay Live, and in 1995 she introduced coverage of the FIFA Women's World Cup and began reporting for Football Focus.

Irvine has presented for the BBC at every Summer Olympics since Atlanta 1996, as well as five Winter Olympics and four FIFA World Cup tournaments. In December 1996, she became the lead presenter of Ski Sunday, initially with Julian Tutt, but then alone from 1997.

She is also a regular presenter of the Triple Crown snooker tournaments (the World Snooker Championship, the Masters and the UK Championship) and has regularly presented the sports news on major BBC evening news bulletins, as well as reporting on events such as Wimbledon and the London Marathon.

Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman:

Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman, CBE (née Hotchkiss; December 20, 1886 - December 5, 1974) dominated American women's tennis before World War I and won 45 American titles in her lifetime.

More ideals for you: Zoe Name Meaning

From : https://wikitopx.com/name-meanings/hazel-name-meaning-712707.html

[torentialtribute]

England World Cup squad: Who trained with Arsenal and who used to be world No 1 at Call of Duty?

While the countdown to the Japan World Cup is getting shorter and shorter, players are becoming shorter ever shorter and fans are preparing for the action in Japan.

With a close team of stars, Eddie Jones England enters the tournament as one of the favorites for glory

But how well do you know the men of the Red Rose? Sportsmail Gives you a better understanding …

JAMIE GEORGE

Fun fact: They are good friends with world cup winning cricketers Eoin Morgan and Jason Roy, went to the same school as Sam Billings.

In addition to mixing with fellow rugby players, Jamie George is friends with a large number of cricket stars

LUKE COWAN-DICKIE

Fun fact: No one in the world was ranked in shoot-em-up video game Call of Duty

SINGLETON JACKET

Fun fact: Nicknamed & # 39; English breakfast & # 39; by Eddie Jones because of his big appetite.

JOE MARLER

Fun fact: He comes from the same city – Heathfield in Sussex – the singer Rag & # 39; n & # 39; Bone man.

MAKO VUNIPOLA

Fun fact: His mother is a methodist preacher and father Fe & # 39; ao played for Tonga until the 1995 and 1999 World Cups.

Mako Vunipola takes his athletic skills for his father, who went for two world cups

KYLE SINCKLER

Fun fact: The child thought he was a dinosaur – and would eat leaves!

DAN COLE

Fun fact: The most capped player in the team with Leicester teammate Ben Youngs, at 86 games, and one of three along with Youngs and Courtney Lawes, who has played in two World Cups

ELLIS GENGE

Fun fact: His foot tattooed for every nation he played against.

MARO ITOJE

Fun fact: Trained with Arsenal this summer the football team and the supports appeared on the front of the Tatler magazine.

Maro Itoje is one of the strongest members of the team and was taking its course at Arsenal

GEORGE CROSS

Fun fact: You have set up a company that sells legal cannabis oil products with former Sarries teammate Dominic Day.

COURTNEY LAWES

Fun fact: Nelly (5), Teddy (3), and twins Hugo and Otto (1)

JOE LAUNCHBURY

Fun fact: Went to Christ's Hospital School where he wore the distinctive uniform including breeches and long yellow socks!

SAM UNDERHILL

Fun fact: He was born in the US, his father was stationed there as a RAF pilot

]

England Sam Underhill was born in the US USA, like his father stationed there as a RAF pilot

TOM CURRY

Fun fact: You were stuffed this summer by setting up a stone with a complete diet of pasta.

MARK WILSON

Fun fact: On his first day in Newcastle Falcons as a schoolboy he managed to block Jonny Wilkinson in his car on the one-way street system of the city.

LEWIS LUDLAM

Fun fact: There are three flags in the biography section of his Twitter account – from Palestine, Egypt and Guyana – to be the heritage of his represent parents

BILLY VUNIPOLA

Fun fact: married his wife Simmone this summer in his homeland of Tonga. He invited 130 people and 280 came up!

WILLI HEINZ

Fun fact: He is one of the three members of the team who played against England. Joe Marler and Elliot Daly represented the barbarians in 2019 and 2013, and Heinz played for the crusaders in 2014.

Scrum half Willi Heinz is one of the three members of the team who played against England

BEN YOUNGS

Fun fact: His father Nick won six caps for England, also as a scrum half between 1983 and 1984.

OWEN FARRELL

Fun fact: Missed Saracens & # 39; European quarterfinals against Glasgow in the spring to attend his first child, Tommy.

GEORGE FORD

Fun fact: Bought himself one of the last Defend cars that Land Rover produced before the model was discontinued.

MANU TUILAGI

Fun fact: Loves snooker and once went to the World Championships at the Crucible with Ellis Genge.

PIERS FRANCIS

Fun fact: was born in Gravesend in Kent, but spent his formative years in New Zealand, where between 2011 and 2015 for Auckland, the Blues, Waikato and counties Manakau played.

]

Piers Francis spent his training years in New Zealand where he played for Auckland

HENRY SLADE

Fun fact: There is a huge cockapoo dog named Frank, after Frank the Tank in the Old School movie.

JONATHAN JOSEPH

Fun fact: Sister Hannah is a netball star for Loughborough Lightning.

RUARIDH MCCONNOCHIE

[1945902] Fun fact: Nickname "The Stick" by Bath teammates when he joined last year due to his lanky stature.

JACK NOWELL

Fun fact: the pub – the swordfish – in his hometown of Newlyn, near Penzance.

JOE COKANASIGA

Fun fact: was born in Fiji, was three years old and has spent his childhood in Germany and Brunei as his father Ilaitia was in the British army .

After his birth in Fiji, Joe Cokanasiga spent his childhood in Germany and Brunei

JONNY MAY

Fun fact: It is the fastest member of the team, able to run at a fast speed at 24 mph!

ANTHONY WATSON

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[thepoolscene]

The Pool Scene - Colin Montgomerie, Corey Deuel, Efren Reyes, Jimmy White, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Todd Martin - Snooker

New Post on https://thepoolscene.com/?p=53723

Be the Best: The Pro’s who have tried to master both Snooker & Pool

The comparisons between snooker and Pool are undeniable but arguments have waged throughout the years as to which requires more skill, which is the more complete game, and quite frankly which is better.

The latter point surely comes down to personal opinion, however, there are some professionals from both pools (excuse the pun) of sports who attempt to bridge the gap and prove they can master both the arts of Snooker and Pool.

We take a look at some well-known faces and chart their exploits across both codes of sport.

Ronnie O’Sullivan

Let’s start at the top shall we, Ronnie ‘the Rocket’ O’Sullivan is an enigma in the modern-day world of snooker.

Arguably the most gifted player of his generation (and has a case for all time), O’Sullivan’s temperament, honesty, and attitude have cost him dearly over the years.

Despite this, the 42-year-old has still amassed nearly £10 million in winnings over his career and claimed the World Snooker Championship five times.

Every time the Rocket turns up at a tournament, excitement reins supreme and even though he has not won the World title since 2013, the Rocket is already instilled as favourite for the 2019 Snooker World Championship at 7/2 with Betway as of the 21st August 2018.

That is testament to O’Sullivan’s impact, unpredictability, and remarkable talent that he is such a draw in the snooker betting markets, however, it seems that talent extends to Pool also.

In 2017, Ronnie was the centre of a documentary where he headed Stateside to test his pool skills against some of the very best players such as six-time World Pool Champions Earl ‘The Pearl’ Strickland.

The Pearl claimed the win in a light-hearted contest but as a self-proclaimed lover of pool, could we be about to see O’Sullivan regular fixture on the Pool Scene?

Jimmy White

The Whirlwind is widely regarded as the finest player to never have won a snooker World Championship.

Every sport has a supremely talented individual who never quite claimed the top prize, F1 has Stirling Moss, golf has Colin Montgomerie, Tennis has Todd Martin and snooker has Jimmy White.

However, take nothing away from the 56-year-old Englishman who has won everything else on the Snooker calendar including UK Championships, World Cup’s, and Masters events. It also turns out the White has some talent on the Pool table as well.

Back in 1995, White competed in the Mosconi Cup and showed off some serious skills impressing fans with his skill, speed, and agility around the table..

Remarkably, White was part of the winning European team that year in a narrow 16-15 defeat of the USA.

Corey Deuel

American Corey ‘Cash Money’ Deuel is a seasoned professional on the Pool Scene boasting a raft of titles including the 2001 Nine-ball Championship.

At 40-years of age, Deuel is still very much an active player and has made a successful transition to snooker.

In 2013, the regular Team USA Mosconi Cup representative swapped nine-ball for snooker and duly won the United States Amateur Championship defeating compatriot Sargon Isaac 5-1 in the final.

However, in 2018, Deuel’s snooker career is not going so well having played three matches in qualifying school (in an attempt to qualify for the professional tour) but has unfortunately lost all three matches with a 1-12 record in frames.

Efren Reyes

Efren Reyes is deemed the World’s greatest Billiard player by many inside the game. That is quite an accolade but it is not hard to see why with over 70 titles to his name. Reyes is clearly an immensely talented individual when it comes to nine-ball.

Although undoubtedly beyond talent with a cue, it seems that Snooker has somewhat eluded the Filipino, that is except for rumour that has been doing the rounds for years across both Snooker and Pool.

Yet unconfirmed, the rumour is that Reyes beat both Jimmy White and Ronnie O’Sullivan in best of three matches. Whether it is true or not we do not know, but it is something we would like to see.

[scotianostra]

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.

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday  Stephen Hendry, born on January 13th, 1969 in Edinburgh.

Hendry was winner of the World Snooker Championship in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999. He has made 11 competitive maximum breaks in competition, second only to Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Stephen now works as a commentator for the BBC and ITV and is regarded by snooker’s professional body, and many commentators, pundits and former players to be one of the greatest players ever.

Hendry decided to return to the professional circuit  in 2021 ending an eight-year hiatus after announcing his retirement in 2012, according to the latest stats though he only played three matches last year, losing them all Stephen is also playing the seniors tour.

[scotianostra]

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.

However Hendry decided to return to the professional circuit  in 2021 ends an eight-year hiatus after announcing his retirement in 2012, last November he said he was still enjoying snooker comeback despite ‘bulls**t being talked about it’ He  has picked up three wins, beating Jimmy White, Wakelin and Michael White in recent months, but has not been past the second round of any event yet.  ‘I keep saying it, I’m enjoying the process, my practice is going really well, I’m getting stronger and stronger all the time,’ he added. 

I  wonder how long before Stephen hangs up his cue once more, he is mere shadow of the player he once was,  looking at his season stats, he is yet to make a century break and his win percentage of frames is just  30.23%

Meanwhile at the crucible today fellow Scot John Higgins is 9-6 down against Ronnie O’Sullivan. 

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday  Stephen Hendry, born on January 13th, 1969 in Edinburgh.

Hendry was winner of the World Snooker Championship in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999. He has made 11 competitive maximum breaks in competition, second only to Ronnie O'Sullivan with 13.

Stephen now works as a commentator for the BBC and ITV and is regarded by snooker’s professional body, and many commentators, pundits and former players to be one of the greatest players ever.

Hendry decided to return to the professional circuit  in 2021 ends an eight-year hiatus after announcing his retirement in 2012, last November he said he was still enjoying snooker comeback despite ‘bulls**t being talked about it’ He  has picked up three wins, beating Jimmy White, Wakelin and Michael White in recent months, but has not been past the second round of any event yet.  ‘I keep saying it, I’m enjoying the process, my practice is going really well, I’m getting stronger and stronger all the time,’he added. 

Stephen is aldo playing the seniors tour, recently going out in the quarter-finals of  the UK Seniors Snooker Championship to  Ken Doherty a rematch of the 1997 World Championship final against Stephen Hendry.

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday, the “Wishaw Wizard” Snooker player John Higgins who turns 47 today.

Turning professional in 1992, by the 1994/1995 season he was the first teenager to win three ranking events in a season. In just his third season he had climbed to number 11 in the rankings.

In the 1996 UK Championship he lost 10-9 in the final to the then six time World Champion Stephen Hendry. Two years later, after a then-tournament record 14 centuries, he won his first World Championship by beating defending champion Ken Doherty 18-12. The win saw him ranked World Number 1 for the first time, ending the eight year reign of Hendry.

He added the UK Championship and the Masters the following season to become just the third player after Davis and Hendry to hold the Triple Crown of World, UK and Masters titles simultaneously.

In terms of World Championship wins in the modern era Higgins is fifth behind some of snookers greats, Stephen Hendry (7), Steve Davis (6), Ray Reardon (6) and Ronnie O'Sullivan (7). He narrowly missed out a fifth title after a great comeback, losing 18-16 o Mark Williams in 2018.

In 2019 he again went all the way in the World Championship final, his eighth Crucible final but loses it for the third time in a row, beaten 18-9 by Judd Trump.

Higgins has been married to Denise since 2000; they have three children together: sons Pierce and Oliver, and daughter Claudia. In February 2010, the couple appeared on ITV’s Mr. and Mrs and reached the final after answering 9 questions correctly out of 9 to win £30,000 They donated the money to The Dalziel Centre – a day hospice for cancer patients, based at Strathclyde Hospital in Motherwell, of which Higgins became a patron after they cared for his terminally ill father.

Lat month John went out of the World Championship  in the semi-final to the eventual winner  Ronnie O'Sullivan

He has won 31 career ranking titles, putting him in third place on the all-time list of ranking event winners, behind Ronnie O'Sullivan (39) and Stephen Hendry(36). John finished the season ranked fifth in the world.

[scotianostra]

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” 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 now won 37 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 25th November 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.

Stephen is now a commentator on the BBC for the sport, but has come out of retirement, he missed out on qualifying for this years World Championship  after a heavy defeat by Xu Si in the second qualifying round in Sheffield, losing 6 frames to 1. 

Hendry’s World Snooker profile states that he is “generally considered the greatest snooker player ever” Some professional players say the Ronnie O'Sullivan is the greatest, I say that yes, O'Sullivan is a brilliant player, but Hendry was the consummate professional and better all round player.

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday, the “Wishaw Wizard” Snooker player John Higgins who turns 46 today.

Turning professional in 1992, by the 1994/1995 season he was the first teenager to win three ranking events in a season. In just his third season he had climbed to number 11 in the rankings.

In the 1996 UK Championship he lost 10-9 in the final to the then six time World Champion Stephen Hendry. Two years later, after a then-tournament record 14 centuries, he won his first World Championship by beating defending champion Ken Doherty 18-12. The win saw him ranked World Number 1 for the first time, ending the eight year reign of Hendry.

He added the UK Championship and the Masters the following season to become just the third player after Davis and Hendry to hold the Triple Crown of World, UK and Masters titles simultaneously.

In terms of World Championship wins in the modern era Higgins is fifth behind some of snookers greats, Stephen Hendry (7), Steve Davis (6), Ray Reardon (6) and Ronnie O'Sullivan (5). He narrowly missed out a fifth title after a great comeback, losing 18-16 o Mark Williams in 2018.

Last year he again went all the way in the World Championship final, his eighth Crucible final but loses it for the third time in a row, beaten 18-9 by Judd Trump. Wins the World Cup alongside Stephen Maguire, beating China B in the final.

Higgins has been married to Denise since 2000; they have three children together: sons Pierce and Oliver, and daughter Claudia. In February 2010, the couple appeared on ITV’s Mr. and Mrs and reached the final after answering 9 questions correctly out of 9 to win £30,000 They donated the money to The Dalziel Centre – a day hospice for cancer patients, based at Strathclyde Hospital in Motherwell, of which Higgins became a patron after they cared for his terminally ill father.

Lat month John went out of the World Championship  in the last 16, going down 13-17 to another ex champion, Mark Williams 

This season Higgins  ended a three-year ranking title drought at the 2021 Players Championship, where he sensationally defeated Jordan Brown, Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson and Ronnie O’Sullivan for the loss of just four frames.