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...does he become the Greatest Of All Time? For those who already think he is then the question is obviously irrelevant.
I've always been on the S.Hendry side of this debate, but I've been thinking - would a 6th World Title for O'Sullivan give him the edge? If not, what would he have to do between now and when he retires to be the classed as the undisputed greatest? And, whatever it is he needs to do - is it essential that he does it at Sheffield?
The main arguments in favour of Hendry are that he had to take the crown from the best the game had ever seen up to that point, and in doing so he completely changed the way the game was played at the highest level. As a result he dominated the game for virtually a full decade, and O'Sullivan has never been able to dominate for anywhere approaching that length of time. Hendry also has seven World titles to O'Sullivan's five, and winning at Sheffield has always (rightly) been seen as the ultimate test of skill and temperament.
I've also always believed that Hendry at his best would beat O'Sullivan at his best in a best-of-35 at Sheffield, due to his superior mental strength given all the pressure that would go with it. But, would he beat him in a best-of-11 at The Masters? And, does O'Sullivan's longevity (which could go on for another 5 years) outrank Hendry's decade of dominance? Also, O'Sullivan's is constantly looking at ways of improving his game even now in his forties in relation to exercise/fitness, diet, sports psychology, using different practice partners and employing a sightright coach - whereas Hendry was unable or unwilling to change, and potentially improve, his game once his game started to deteriorate after his era of domination had ended.
I've always been on the S.Hendry side of this debate, but I've been thinking - would a 6th World Title for O'Sullivan give him the edge? If not, what would he have to do between now and when he retires to be the classed as the undisputed greatest? And, whatever it is he needs to do - is it essential that he does it at Sheffield?
The main arguments in favour of Hendry are that he had to take the crown from the best the game had ever seen up to that point, and in doing so he completely changed the way the game was played at the highest level. As a result he dominated the game for virtually a full decade, and O'Sullivan has never been able to dominate for anywhere approaching that length of time. Hendry also has seven World titles to O'Sullivan's five, and winning at Sheffield has always (rightly) been seen as the ultimate test of skill and temperament.
I've also always believed that Hendry at his best would beat O'Sullivan at his best in a best-of-35 at Sheffield, due to his superior mental strength given all the pressure that would go with it. But, would he beat him in a best-of-11 at The Masters? And, does O'Sullivan's longevity (which could go on for another 5 years) outrank Hendry's decade of dominance? Also, O'Sullivan's is constantly looking at ways of improving his game even now in his forties in relation to exercise/fitness, diet, sports psychology, using different practice partners and employing a sightright coach - whereas Hendry was unable or unwilling to change, and potentially improve, his game once his game started to deteriorate after his era of domination had ended.
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Great post. For me, personally, the remodelled O'Sullivan is tight up there without a shadow of a doubt. I can look past the odd bouts of silliness as long as his head is in the game and there is no doubt that when he is "on it", the rest struggle to give him a test.
As far as Hendry goes, he was more consistent and just spent, as you say, a decade beating up everybody on a regular basis. I actually hated him as a player and yet love it when he is on the mic doing the commentary. In fact Hendry/Everton is pure class. It's very difficult to ever make comparisons about great players with any meaningful outcome. Ronnie is unique in as much as he is the only player that has actively sought to better himself by utilising the tools at his disposal. Without the fitness and mental coaching, he would have disappeared long long ago. It is to his credit that he is able to be self critical and seek improvement in the areas that he sees as needing assistance. Whatever the outcome, Ronnie will always be the man that puts the most bums on seats ... |
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Don’t have skin in this game. The two best players we’ve ever seen for vastly different reasons that are hard to weigh up when set against each other. You could give me a thousand reason reasons why ronnie is the greatest and i would be readily convinced, then do the same for hendry and i would probably find myself heartily agreeing with that too.
If ronnie were to win a sixth that would offer another compelling string to his bow but as it stands, however much he is by a distance the greatest talent that ever chalked a cue, 7 world titles and a near 10 year stranglehold on the sport will always remain a powerful counter argument. I know it’s more fun to come down heavily on one side and leap into the fray, but I’m pretty happy with a score draw as things stand. I’m not sure we’ll see two players like them again in any of our lifetimes. |
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O’Sullivan has 2 overwhelming wins in world semi finals v Hendry 17-4 and 17-6 the last twice they met at Sheffield.
Hendry might have been gone then but ROS probably playing to a new level at same age. You’d have to handpick a moment in time when Hendry would have got the better of ROS as in between that the latter has a better H2H record including when beating SH aged 17 in the 1993 UK final. Hendry was a great of the game but it’s becoming more difficult to suggest ROS isn’t the best ever especially as he is still now the most prolific player on the tour way after SH had departed the game. |
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Do ronnies victories over hendry, as emphatic as some of them were, count more than hendrys victories over ronnie? Hendry gave ronnie a couple of pastings too, twice at the uk. I think - not 100% - but he leads in their hth at the world champs. I think there may be a consensus that ronnie fares better in their overall hth but it’s hardly emphatic imo.
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For me it's O'Sullivan and I come from the Davis Era .. it's a tough call but O'Sullivan has longevity in his Favour - his first Ranking title was in 1993 and so has been wining Ranking Titles for an incredible 26 years he also has more natural talent than any other player. Hendry was better in terms of application from the outset - where he was micro managed by Ian Doyle and of course the 7 world titles. Finally I think that the early 90's was weaker in terms of opposition there was no real new talent coming through at a top standard - John Higgins and Mark Williams were yet to be a force, Davis was in decline and Jimmy White was certainly not applying himself.
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There may not have been much talent coming through in the early 90s, but is there now? S.Hendry was beating the same players over and over again, as R.O'Sullivan is now. S.Davis was still a formidable opponent back then, and by the late 90s you had the class of '92 as well as players of the class of K.Doherty and P.Ebdon being at the top of their games. S.Hendry's 7th World title in 1999 saw him beat P.Hunter, J.Wattana, M.Stevens, R.O'Sullivan and M.Williams, and I can't find a more difficult passage to a world title than that.
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1999 world semi, both men at absolute peak - the morning session featured 6 centuries including a 134 from Ronnie which was a pottable pink away from a maximum. The evening session was as exciting a prospect as you could imagine, but Hendry destroyed Ronnie that night. I don't see this as proof of anything, but like the other posters I believe it's not clear cut that Ronnie is the GOAT. One more world title would do it for me though, due to the longevity, style, and uk / masters record too, although all of Hendry's UK wins came when every match was best of 17 whereas several of Ronnie's have been largely best of 11.
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It was interesting to hear R.O'Sullivan list himself as one of the main contenders for Sheffield, along with J.Trump and N.Robertson.
He couldn't, could he...? |
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I'm not as adamant as I was
 But, I don't see him lasting. 6 years since he won it and some grim defeats in the last 5 years. In his favour is a resolve he has seldom shown suddenly start appearing. The comeback v Judd (aided and abetted by Duddly) will have boosted him no doubt. Hopefully an interesting event, would pick Judd if pressed but fully aware of the pitfalls of that. Would have to agree with Ron on his 3 picks, I'm well against the other 7 players in the top ten of the betting for various reasons. |
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wd ronnie.
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Seems to lack the stamina for the Worlds nowadays doesn't he
Trump might well be on his way home at this reight as well |
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Joe back within one
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