Previous Page Stephen Hendry wins record seventh snooker title 1999Seated with cue in hand, Stephen Hendry watched as Ken Doherty applied what would be the finishing touches to secure his first world snooker title. When the moment came, Hendry was gracious in defeat but was left to reflect on what might have been.Twelve months earlier the feeling had been so different as the championship trophy was presented to the young Scot for the sixth time. With the 1996 win came the step up onto the snooker pedestal to confirm him as one of the best. His 18-12 win over Peter Ebdon had secured not just the title but also his place alongside Ray Reardon and Steve Davis as the masters of the modern era. Ray Reardon, the smiling Welshman with a hint of mischief, ruled the 1970s. Steve Davis, in an era when flash and style dominated, was calm, cool and often virtually comatose in making the 1980s his own as he secured his six titles to equal Reardon's record. With Steve Davis the record bent but did not break; there was to be no number seven for him. For Stephen Hendry, 1997 had presented him with the chance to make the record his own. However, he was left with an unfamiliar sensation - the taste of defeat. Hendry's previous six final appearances, five in succession, had all been won by the Scot. While the taste was unfamiliar in 1997, the desire to reach seven world championship wins was not diminished; instead it grew stronger. Hendry, who made his debut in the Championship aged 17 and 3 months, had his first success aged 21. He was crowned the 1990 champion, becoming the youngest ever winner of the world title and the first Scot to win it since Walter Donaldson of Coatbridge in 1950. In 1990 Hendry beat Jimmy White, as he did in 1992, 1993 and 1994. In finals, Hendry simply broke the Englishman's heart. In 1992 he won ten straight frames to take the title after trailing 8-14. To reach the magic 18 mark he finished with a flourish, ending with breaks of 134 and 112. 1993 was a comfortable 18-5 win however the 1994 final was a remarkable affair. Playing in the tournament despite a fractured elbow, which had been injured in a fall, the championship was decided in Henry's favour in the 35th and final frame. It could have been different as Jimmy White looked in control but he spurned his chance and Hendry won with the mark of a champion - a 58 final clearance. 1994 also brought Hendry the award of an MBE. Two further world championship finals followed. In 1995 Nigel Bond was defeated, Peter Ebdon was beaten 18-12 in 1996. The 1996 win was followed by the winning of a different title, the award of the BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year Trophy for the second time (the other being in 1987).The 1997 final was the opportunity to become the undisputed best of the best but the happy ending did not appear as Ken Doherty triumphed and Reardon, Davis and Hendry remained a trio of six-time winners. The 1998 final had a strange look to it with no blonde-haired Scotsman being introduced to the Crucible crowd. Stephen Hendry, six-times champion, had exited at the first round. His opponent gained a small measure of consolation, Jimmy White the victor 10-4. There was to be no first round exit in 1999, although it was close. Paul Hunter was the opponent. It was a tense match and Hendry's two-frame margin of victory was the smallest that he was to enjoy in the tournament. His progress past James Wattana, Matthew Stevens and Ronnie O'sullivan en-route to the final was remarkable given that just six months earlier Hendry had fallen to his worst professional defeat – a 9-0 drubbing at the hands of Marcus Campbell in the first round of the UK Championship. The semi-final against Ronnie O'sullivan was a classic match featuring four consecutive century breaks. Hendry pulled narrowly ahead with stylish clearances of 101 and 108. O'sullivan replied with breaks of 134 and 110 to level the match and went on to take a 13-12 lead. Hendry, unruffled, reeled off five consecutive frames to take the match 17-13 and provided him with a second shot at proving what people knew; that he was the best player the game had ever seen.If the final lacked drama, Hendry always being in control, those watching at the Crucible and on television knew that history was being made. For most, it was a privilege to watch the best ever at work. Two century breaks by Hendry lit up the final. At 17-9 Hendry was on the verge of winning. Williams rallied to take the next two frames. A Williams comeback was possible, after all Hendry himself had taken ten straight frames to defeat Jimmy White in 1992. In reality, there was little chance for Williams. Hendry took the last frame in style, a break of 88 wining both the frame and the match. The prize money of £230,000 was almost overshadowed; the only number that mattered was seven - the much sought-after seventh world title was his.Reflecting on his achievement, Hendry said: "Without doubt, this is worth more than the other six titles put together. It was the one last ambition I had in snooker and I've proved I can do it." Stephen Hendry, a true Scottish sporting legend, stepped into a realm of his own with his seventh world championship win. Written by: Paul Mitchell | 
