Special Sub-Topic: Stephen Hendry's Career Click Here To Play: Stephen Hendry's Career

In what year did Hendry win his first World Championship final?

1990. He defeated Jimmy White 18-12.

Hendry's loss to Peter Ebdon in the 2002 final of the World Championships was his 2nd defeat in a World Championship final. His previous loss was to Ken Doherty, of Ireland. In which year did the Irishman triumph?

1997. Doherty ended Hendry's 5 year reign as World Champion, to become the first man in history to have won the World Junior (1989), World Amateur (also 1989,) and World Professional Championships (1997) during his lucrative career.

The "Crucible jinx", which notes that no player has successfully defended the world title after his first win, was continued in 2003 with the quarter-final loss of Peter Ebdon. Who triumphed in the year after Hendry's first world title?

John Parrott MBE. John Parrott had a great year in 1991 by also winning the sport's second highest prize, the UK Championship. Parrott defeated Jimmy White 18-11 at the crucible.

When Hendry won the Masters title at Wembley in 1996, it was his _____ title at the prestigious venue.

6th. By winning it 5 times in a row from 1989 to 1993, Hendry was given the trophy to keep and a new trophy had to be made.

During the 1990's, Jimmy White MBE suffered a torturous 6 world final losses, but how many of those defeats were at the hands of the great Scot?

4. In 1992, White led Hendry by a commanding sore of 14-8 before Hendry stormed to victory with the last ten frames to win 18-14. The other losses to Hendry came in 1990, 1993, and 1994. Further losses to Parrott (1991), and Davis (1984), make him surely the greatest player never to have lifted the world title.

In the final of the charity challenge event in 1997, Hendry led O'Sullivan by 8 frames to 1 (requiring just one frame for victory), before O'Sullivan rattled off 7 frames in a row to level at 8-8. What happened next?

Hendry won frame and match with a maximum break.. This match typifies Hendry's attitude to the game and final frames in particular. He has often been criticised for his somewhat cavalier approach, but it his talent usually pulls him through.

Where was he born?

Edinburgh. Born in Edinburgh on the 13th of January 1969.

Which rival took over the coverted number-one ranking position after Hendry had held the position for 8 years?

John Higgins. For Hendry to lose his top ranking position, two unlikely events had to occur: Higgins had to win his first world title, and Hendry had to fall in the first round. Hendry lost to White in the first round, and John Higgins defeated the defending champion, Ken Doherty, 18-12 for the title to continue the "Crucible jinx".

John Higgins made a record 14 centuries in his title-winning campaign, only for Hendry to surpass it when he lost to Ebdon in the 2002 final. How many centuries did he make?

16. In the 2003 World Championship, Hendry became the first man to record over 100 century breaks at the Crucible. Few players can claim to have made 100 century breaks in total (at all tournaments) by the end of their career.

With 7 world titles, 5 masters victories and 4 UK Championships during the 1990's, Hendry's performance at the British Open may be seen as somewhat average, but how many times did he win this prestigious crown during the 1990s?

2. Victories in 1991 and 1999 for Hendry would be impressive by most players standards.

Hendry's first world title came at a record-breaking age. How old was Hendry when he became the youngest ever World Champion?

21. He first appeared at the Crucible at the age of 17 in 1986, and lost 10-8 to Willie Thorne in the first round. Only four years later, he would lift the title for the first time.

Ronnie O'Sullivan caused a stir when, prior to his 2002 semi-final match with Hendry, he stated that he wanted to "beat him [Hendry] up badly ... stick it right up him", and "send him back to his sad little life in Scotland" [quotes may not be exact]. What reason did O'Sullivan give for his ill feeling towards the 7-time champion?

Hendry had used the miss rule in an unsporting manner in a previous tournament.. Hendry seemed to get an extra spark from O'Sullivan's comments, and went on to play wonderful snooker to win the match before losing to Ebdon in the final by 18-17.

At which venue did Hendry record his first ranking tournament title?

1987 Grand Prix. He defeated the 1985 World Champion, Denis Taylor by 10-7.

Stephen Hendry has been prolific at the World Championships in the open era. His seventh in 1999, separated him from two 6-time World Champions. One was Steve Davis. Who was the other?

Ray Reardon. Nicknamed 'Dracula', Reardon won in 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1978. He would go on to lose the 1982 final to Alex Higgins at the ripe old age of 49.

In what year did Hendry receive the honor of the MBE from the Queen?

1994. In the same year, he defeated Jimmy White in a final frame thriller after White squandered surely his best chance of World Championship glory, while in amongst the balls at 17-17.

Which surprise finalist was Hendry's opponent in 1995?

Nigel Bond. Hendry triumphed by 18-9 in a one-sided final.

Hendry is one of a select group of players to make the magical 147 break at the Crucible, but who was the first man to have done so twice?

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Cliff Thorburn made the first maximum break at the Crucible in 1983, and it started with a fluke. O'Sullivan struck a 147 in both 1997 and 2003 (the first of which took only 5 mins 20 secs!).

The Crucible is the venue that has seen Hendry's first 7 world crowns, but in which city is the Crucible theatre?

Sheffield. A permanent venue since 1977, the Crucible has seen only 15 World Champions crowned prior to the 2004 tournament.

With over 600 century breaks in his professional career, Hendry towers over his peers. Perhaps his most incredible statistic was created, when he fired in 7 centuries in 10 frames in the 1994 UK Championship. Who was on the recieving end of this mighty onslaught?

Ken Doherty. In an incredible match, Hendry did not manage to destroy his dogged opponent, as Doherty battled before ultimately losing 10-5.

Hendry suffered a dry spell in terms of ranking tournament victories. His first title for 27 months came in 2001 at which tournament?

The European Open. Hendry defeated Joe Perry in the final, by a commanding 9 frames to 2. Successes immediately after the slump have been largely attributed to coach Terry Griffiths (1979 World Champion), who has also helped Hendry's good friend Mark Williams.