Stephen Hendry

Judd Trump of England has won three ranking tournaments in a row (Picture: Wang HE/Getty Images）

How Judd Trump completed a hat-trick of snooker titles at Northern Ireland Open

Peter Lines.

Leeds potter Peter Lines targets Crucible glory at World Seniors Championship

A Just Stop Oil protester jumps on the table and throws orange powder during the match between Robert Milkins against Joe Perry during day three of the Cazoo World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Oil protesters force play to be halted at World Championship in Sheffield

Ronnie O'Sullivan says he is determined to keep controversy at arm's length as he braces for his record 31st consecutive Crucible appearance when the World Snooker Championships get under way in Sheffield on Saturday. (Picture: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

Ronnie O'Sullivan on his best behaviour as World Snooker Championship dawns

Ronnie O'Sullivan will look to successfully defend his World Championship crown for only the second time (Picture: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Ronnie O'Sullivan handed tricky first-round tie in World Snooker Championship

Ronnie O’Sullivan hints snooker players should go on strike

England's Ronnie O'Sullivan reveals his true emotions after beating England's Judd Trump in the Betfred World Snooker Championship final at The Crucible, Sheffield (Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

Enjoyment, not chasing records, key to Ronnie O'Sullivan's genius

Lily O'Sullivan, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ronnie O'Sullivan Junior (left-right) celebrate with the trophy. Pictures: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire. .

‘It’s my greatest victory of all’ says O’Sullivan

Ronnie O'Sullivan after beating Judd Trump. Photo: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire. .

O'Sullivan level with Hendry after winning seventh world title in Sheffield

John Higgins in action against Jack Lisowski in their World Championship quarter-final in Sheffield. Picture: PA

World Championship: Snooker’s ‘Three Mexicanos’ still fighting hard at Crucible

Australia's Neil Robertson celebrates making a 147 against England's Jack Lisowski. Picture: PA

World Championship: Maximum high for Robertson as ‘Class of 92’ face reunion

Ronnie O'Sullivan in action against David Gilbert. Picture: PA

World Championship: ‘I was never born a winner’ says gladiator O'Sullivan

World Championship contenders (back to front, left to right) Mark Allen, Anthony McGill, Luca Brecel, Shaun Murphy, Neil Robertson, Barry Hawkins, Stuart Bingham, Yan Bingtao, Mark Williams, John Higgins, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson and Zhao Xinong during the media day at The Crucible, Sheffield. Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire. .

World Championship: Ronnie O’Sullivan refusing to play numbers game at Crucible

Yan Bingtao plays a shot during the Betfred World Snooker Championship in front of a limited crowd at the Crucible. Pictures: PA

Yan Bingtao dismisses ‘impossible’ mission to break Stephen Hendry’s Crucible re...

Ronnie O'Sullvan celebrates winning last year's World Championship. Picture: BBC

World Championship - Ronnie O’Sullivan is more excited about running than snooke...

TURN BACK TIME: Stephen Hendry. Picture: Paul Barker/PA

Hendry turns back clock to scupper rival White’s World Championship hopes

1994: Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White shake hands before the Embassy World Championship Final at the Crucible Theatre. Picture: Allsport

Fancy meeting you again - snooker legends Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White collide

Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White competing at the Crucible back in 1994. Picture: Allsport UK /Allsport

‘Fantastic news for snooker’ - Legends Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White to meet in...

Back on cue: Stephen Hendry. Picture: Michael Regan/Getty Images

All eyes on snooker legend Stephen Hendry as he takes cue from rack again

Rebecca Kenna giving instruction to Natilley Caudwell from Spire Junior School,Chestefield, during the 2019 World Championship in Sheffield. Picture: Steve Ellis

Keighley amateur Rebecca Kenna relishing rare chance in Snooker’s Shoot Out

THROUGH: Defending Masters champion, Stuart Bingham. Picture: Adam Davy/PA

Defending Masters champion Stuart Bingham survives scare by Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
STUART BINGHAM has Stephen Hendry in his sights after kicking off his Masters defence with a nervy 6-4 win over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Ronnie O'Sullivan remains the leading figure in the game with 37 ranking titles to his name. Picture: Nigel French/PA

Ronnie O’Sullivan still blazing snooker trail for others to follow

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Picture: Nigel French/PA Wire

Ronnie O’Sullivan ‘devastated’ as York loses UK Championship

Peter Lines

Peter Lines to play Jimmy White at the Crucible in World Seniors Championship

Peter Lines is back in action at the World Seniors Championship in Sheffield this week (Picture:vSimon Cooper/PA Wire)

Crucible return as Peter Lines looks to ‘defend’ his 2017 World Seniors title

Ronnie O'Sullivan on his to victory over Kyren Wilson in Sheffield. Photo by Benjamin Mole/WST/Shutterstock

Champion moment as Ronnie O’Sullivan cruises to sixth World Championship victory

Back on top: Ronnie O’Sullivan holds aloft the Betfred World Championship trophy for the sixth time in his career in front of the few hundred or so fans permitted into the Crucible last night. (Picture: Benjamin Mole/WST/Shutterstock)

Ronnie O’Sullivan on winning World Snooker title No 6

World champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. Picture: BBC

Ronnie O’Sullivan wins sixth World Championship at Crucible

THE PRIZE: The Betfred Snooker World Championship trophy. Picture: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images.

Ronnie O'Sullivan in pole position to claim sixth Crucible title

Ronnie O'Sullivan leads Mark Selby 5-3 in their semi-final match after the first session.

Ronnie O’Sullivan keen to enjoy his run at the Crucible

Kurt Maflin has dumped John Higgins out of the World Championship (Picture: PA)

Kurt Maflin shocks four-time champions John Higgins at the Crucible

Top break: Stephen Hendry iis congratulated by match referee Zhu Ying after he scored a maximum 147 during the World Snooker Championships at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.

Stephen Hendry’s big break at the Crucible - on this day
Just days away from ending an illustrious playing career, Stephen Hendry’s love affair with the Crucible continued with a 147-break against Stuart Bingham on April 21, 2012.

Ronnie O'Sullivan: Defends crown

Judd Trump still has a long way to go, says Ronnie O’Sullivan - UK Championship

Judd Trump celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2019 Betfred World Championship at the Crucible, Sheffield (Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire).

‘Unplayable’ Judd Trump is Crucible king after stunning final display against Jo...

Record exit: Luo Honghao, right, falling to Shaun Murphy at The Crucible.

Snooker at The Crucible: ‘Danny The Dustman’ happy to consign record to the bin

Ronnie O'Sullivan.

World Snooker – Ronnie O’Sullivan out to follow legend Tigers Woods

Scotland's Stephen Hendry at the table during his semi-final match against Ronnie O'Sullivan (background) in The 2004 Embassy World Snooker Championships at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield (Picture: Gareth Copley/PA)

Bygones - The day Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan delivered ‘snooker from t...

EASING THROUGH: Ding Junhui in action against Xiao Guodong at The Crucible on Tuesday morning. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA

World Championship: Ding Junhui hits cruise control at The Crucible

Stephen Hendry with the UK Snooker Championship trophy at Preston Guild Hall .

On This Day: Eleven maximum breaks for Hendry, each one of them special

Ronnie O'Sullivan celebrates with his sixth Masters title. (Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire)

Weekend Interview: Cue king Ronnie O'Sullivan at peace on and off table

Mark Selby celebrates winning the world snooker title. (Picture: PA)

Mark Selby eyes Stephen Hendry's record of Crucible triumphs

Mark Selby and John Higgins shakes hands at the start of the final.

Selby launches late fightback to keep alives his Crucible dream

Ronnie O'Sullivan (right) congratulates Ding Junhui.

Ronnie O'Sullivan denies 147 snub in Crucible exit to Ding Junhui

BAIZE OF GLORY: Dennis Taylor (right) and Steve Davis at the end of the World Snooker Championships final at the Crucible Theatre in 1985, which was watched by a TV audience of 18 million.

TV preview - The Crucible: 40 Golden Snooker Years

1990 - Stephen Hendry finds it all a bit much, while runner-up Jimmy White looks on. (Sheffield Newspapers).

Sheffield's Crucible - Snooker's theatre of dreams

Dominant: Stephen Hendry raises the trophy after his seventh world title success. (Picture: PA)

World Snooker Championship: Standard too high to challenge my record '“ Hendry

Ireland's new hero, Ken Doherty, kisses the trophy having become the new Embassy World Snooker Champion after beating six-times champion, Stephen Hendry at the Crucible in Sheffield in 1997. (Picture: Paul Barker/PA)

Bygones: When Ken Doherty was right on cue to prove dreams really can come true

Slimmed down Jimmy White aims to qualify for the Crucible at Ponds Forge (Picture: Paul Heyes).

Road to the Crucible: Jimmy White now has weight off shoulders in bid to show he...

Seven-times world snooker champion Stephen Hendry with team partners Scott Goodall, right, and Yorkshire Post golf writer Chris Stratford at Forest Pines.

Snooker legend Stephen Hendry behind camera for Happy Gilmore remake

Stephen Hendry celebrates winning one of his seven world snooker titles.

Club closures are a threat to the pipeline, says Stephen Hendry

Stephen Hendry at the snooker table.

Weekend Interview: Snooker legend Stephen Hendry eyes one last Crucible hurrah

Ronnie O'Sullivan kisses the trophy following his victory over Joe Perry at the Dafabet Masters.

O'Sullivan survives Perry scare to secure historic Masters win

Stephen Hendry.

Snooker legend is back: Fancy playing Stephen Hendry for a place at World Champi...

Ronnie O'Sullivan

Video: Playing me is like "their Cup final" believes Ronnie O'Sullivan

Neil Robertson celebrates with the UK Championship trophy.

Robertson must defy history to retain his UK crown

Defending World Champion Stuart Bingham walks out before his first round match at the Crucble Theatre in Sheffield. He lost 10-9 to Ali Carter. Picture: Anna Gowthorpe/PA.

The Crucible Curse - Champions who have failed to defend first title in Sheffiel...

Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Ronnie O'Sullivan equals Stephen Hendry's record after handing Barry Hawkins a m...

Paul Gascoigne was named Sports Personality of the Year on this day in 1990.

On this day: All hail Gazza as he is crowned at SPOTY

John Higgins . Picture: Nick Potts/PA.

Love of the game puts Higgins in pursuit  of Hendry

Video - 8 year-old snooker prodigy so small he has to stand on vegetable crate t...