**Stephen Hendry Reveals His True Feelings on Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Pursuit of Snooker History**
As the 2025 World Snooker Championship draws to a nail-biting conclusion at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, the scene is set for history to be rewritten. Ronnie O’Sullivan, a giant in the sport, stands on the cusp of a record-breaking eighth world title. Yet, while fans across the globe await the outcome with bated breath, one man is less than enthusiastic about the English maestro’s possible triumph: Scottish snooker legend Stephen Hendry.
Hendry, himself a seven-time champion, has never been one to hide his competitive instincts. The possibility that O’Sullivan—after a dominant run, including a recent 13-9 victory over China’s Si Jiahui—may soon eclipse his own tally has stirred strong feelings. Speaking openly on his BBC segment ‘Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips’ alongside fellow snooker great Steve Davis, Hendry was asked how he would cope if O’Sullivan were to secure an unprecedented eighth title.
“Of course I’ll hate it,” Hendry conceded with characteristic candour. It was a moment of humour and honesty between two fierce competitors, both of whom know what it means to reach the pinnacle of their sport. Davis, who boasts six world titles himself and once saw his own record overtaken by Hendry, teased his former rival, questioning how he would manage to commentate on O’Sullivan’s crowning moment. “How are you going to get the words out of your mouth?” Davis quipped, to which Hendry replied, “And sound genuinely happy for him?”
The exchange, light-hearted but laced with sincere sentiment, underscores the enduring rivalries that make snooker such a compelling spectacle. Hendry acknowledged that, should O’Sullivan triumph, the feeling would be “weird,” a clear nod to the weight of legacy in professional snooker. “Listen, whether he’s still there in the final weekend or not, we’re both happy he’s in it, right?” Hendry added, seeking a note of sportsmanship, to which Davis readily agreed.
Still, Davis couldn’t resist a final jab. “There’s a lot of people hoping O’Sullivan will win just to see the look on your face,” he said, highlighting the sense of anticipation surrounding their broadcast reactions as much as the on-table drama itself.
Hendry’s ambivalence is symptomatic of a broader tension in elite sport: the balance between admiration for a contemporary’s brilliance and the desire to see one’s own achievements endure. Both Hendry and O’Sullivan belong to snooker’s pantheon, their legacies intimately intertwined. For many fans, the sight of records being challenged and broken is part of the sport’s enduring allure.
Meanwhile, O’Sullivan’s route to the title is far from straightforward. His next test comes in the semi-finals against the supremely talented Zhao Xintong, whose rapid rise in the game has made him one to watch. Their showdown is due to begin on Thursday afternoon, promising high drama and captivating play. On the opposite half of the draw, Welshman Mark Williams, himself a three-time world champion, is gearing up for a titanic clash with Judd Trump, another perennial contender.
As O’Sullivan continues his pursuit of sporting immortality, the response from within the snooker fraternity reveals much about the sport’s competitive fabric. For Hendry, the possibility of being overtaken is both a professional hazard and a testament to the game’s evolving standards. Whether O’Sullivan manages to lift the trophy again or not, the debates around greatness, records, and rivalry are set to continue.
What’s clear is that, for all the banter and bravado, the mutual respect among snooker’s luminaries remains intact. The Crucible, as ever, provides the perfect stage for these stories to unfold, serving up not just world-class snooker but the very human drama behind the cues.
In an era where sporting history is rewritten live on air, viewers will be watching not just for the break-building brilliance but also for the unscripted reactions of legends like Hendry and Davis—each hoping, in their own way, to see the record books remain untouched for just a little longer.