‘Ronnie O’Sullivan told me to go back to my sad life’… Stephen Hendry on his old feud with ‘The Rocket’ and whether the icon can break his World Snooker Championship record

EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Hendry has opened up about the one game he absolutely had to win against Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The snooker legends are arguably the greatest two players to have ever picked up a cue. And with the pair both on seven World Snooker Championship wins apiece, ‘The Rocket’ is on the cusp of making sporting history.

Ronnie O’Sullivan fired shots at Stephen Hendry

Ahead of the 2002 World Snooker Championship semi-final, against Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan spent some time with boxing superstar, Prince Naseem Hamed, who convinced him to ramp up the trash talk.

However, rather than getting under his opponent’s skin, the war of words did nothing but motivate Hendry to put on a tremendous display, winning the match, 17-13.

WOW: Chris Wakelin had a completely different job before his time in the World Snooker Championship

In an exclusive interview with Sporf, the Scotsman reminisced: “I can’t remember all the things [he said], ‘Send me back to my sad little life in Scotland’, and stuff like that. I think he was told by these guys to stoke it up a bit and make it more like a boxing match than a snooker match. It’s probably the one match in my career where there was a bit of needle to it. It’s probably the last time I played my best at the World Championship. I never played the same again, so I probably have Ronnie to thank for me playing so well.”

Stephen Hendry reveals whether he thinks Ronnie O’Sullivan can break his World Snooker Championship record

Since retiring from the sport, Hendry has watched O’Sullivan cement a truly remarkable legacy. And now, he’s opened up about whether the 50-year-old can finally break his record.

Hendry exclaimed: “Absolutely. He’s got a chance this year. I think obviously the chances are running out. He’s admitted that. Ronnie has said himself he’s got maybe two-four more opportunities where he’ll be playing good enough to win it, but he’s got as good a chance as anyone.”

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