Ronnie O’Sullivan blindsided rival Stephen Hendry when he issued a seven-word slight the Scot was not anticipating
Ronnie O’Sullivan as soon as set a bitter barb in Stephen Hendry’s course when he least anticipated it (Picture: WST)
Seven-time snooker world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan as soon as took Stephen Hendry by full shock with one potent piece of criticism. And it left the Scot questioning if his fellow record-holder had it in for him when he thought they have been associates.
O’Sullivan, who not too long ago exited this yr’s World Snooker Championship within the second spherical, confronted Hendry within the semi-finals of the 1999 competitors. And it was throughout that showdown Hendry did one thing that rankled his rival.
Quick-forward three years later when the pair as soon as once more met within the final 4 of the Crucible. And it was within the build-up to that conflict ‘The Rocket’ revealed his frustration in a seven-word slight, telling Hendry to “return to his unhappy little life.”
“I performed him within the semi-finals a few years in the past and we had this miss rule,” stated O’Sullivan previous to their showdown 24 years in the past. “You already know when a sure participant has made a real try and a miss was known as towards me.
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“I actually thought a variety of Stephen till he had that ball put again, and he actually did go down in my estimations after that. There’s not a variety of respect there in any respect.”
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He continued: “Probably the most satisfying factor for me can be to ship him dwelling to Scotland as shortly as potential for a pleasant summer time off. I will say howdy to him as a result of it is laborious to disregard somebody – however he is not my cup of tea.
“I do know if I do get beat and he comes up and does a moonie in entrance of me and goes, ‘Nah nah nah’, I will simply take a look at him and say, ‘Properly executed, return to your unhappy little life’.”
Hendry, who beat O’Sullivan on each events and lifted the 1999 crown, was fully blindsided by the stinging criticism. And whereas the pair might get alongside simply high-quality nowadays, there was no love misplaced from one aspect of the connection again then.
Talking in an Instagram Dwell session in 2024, Hendry recalled: “I used to be very shocked clearly, my street supervisor, John, got here and introduced the newspaper to my room within the resort and confirmed me, It took me abruptly, as a result of I assumed we received on fairly properly.
“It is a type of issues, it is most likely the one needle match I’ve ever performed. I truly watched it the opposite evening, was up until half two, watching the entire 2002 re-run.
“I’ve by no means performed in addition to that on the Crucible since that semi-final. I assumed it was a improbable match, two aggressive snooker gamers taking part in the sport the appropriate method. I do not suppose I ever performed that properly once more, sadly.”
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That is all water beneath the bridge now, nonetheless. O’Sullivan has made quite a few appearances on Hendry’s Cue Ideas podcast in recent times and hails the Scot as one of the best participant to grace the game.
Hendry, 57, additionally not too long ago confronted O’Sullivan beneath ‘Snooker 900’ guidelines on the John Virgo Trophy in April. Nonetheless, there was a time when at the very least as soon as half of the long-lasting duo could not stand being in the identical room as his fellow nice.
