Stephen Hendry is a seven-time world snooker champion and one of the most dominant players of the modern era.
Stephen Hendry – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 13 January 1969 |
| From: | Scotland |
| Turned professional: | 1985 |
| Highest world ranking: | No. 1 |
| Ranking titles: | 36 |
| World Championship titles: | 7 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 18 |
| Masters appearances: | 23 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 11 |
Stephen Hendry’s Snooker Career
Stephen Hendry turned professional in 1985 and quickly established himself as one of the most formidable talents the game had seen. At just 17 years old, he became the youngest qualifier for the World Snooker Championship in 1986, earning widespread admiration despite an opening-round defeat.
Hendry’s rise accelerated rapidly, and by the end of the decade he had transformed the competitive landscape of professional snooker. Known for his relentless break-building and ruthless temperament, he ushered in a new era defined by aggressive scoring and sustained dominance.
Between 1990 and 1999, Hendry contested all but two World Championship finals, capturing the title on seven occasions. His reign at the Crucible earned him the nickname the “King of the Crucible”, a reflection of his unparalleled success on snooker’s biggest stage.
Hendry also enjoyed extraordinary consistency away from Sheffield. He held the world number one ranking for eight consecutive seasons from 1990 to 1998, a modern-era record, while collecting ranking titles at an unprecedented rate.
As the new millennium approached, Hendry’s dominance gradually waned. A combination of technical issues, including the onset of the yips and equipment problems, contributed to a decline in results, though flashes of his former brilliance remained.
In 2012, Hendry compiled the 11th maximum break of his career at the World Championship before announcing his retirement after a quarter-final exit at the same tournament. He would later return to competitive action under an invitational tour card, adding a final chapter to one of the most influential careers in snooker history.
Stephen Hendry’s Ranking Titles
Stephen Hendry won a total of 36 ranking titles during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Grand Prix |
| 1988 | British Open |
| 1989 | Asian Open |
| 1989 | Dubai Classic |
| 1989 | UK Championship |
| 1990 | World Snooker Championship |
| 1990 | Grand Prix |
| 1990 | Asian Open |
| 1990 | Dubai Classic |
| 1990 | UK Championship |
| 1991 | British Open |
| 1991 | Grand Prix |
| 1992 | Welsh Open |
| 1992 | World Snooker Championship |
| 1993 | International Open |
| 1993 | World Snooker Championship |
| 1993 | Dubai Classic |
| 1993 | European Open |
| 1994 | World Snooker Championship |
| 1994 | UK Championship |
| 1994 | European Open |
| 1995 | World Snooker Championship |
| 1995 | Grand Prix |
| 1995 | UK Championship |
| 1996 | World Snooker Championship |
| 1996 | UK Championship |
| 1997 | Welsh Open |
| 1997 | International Open |
| 1998 | Thailand Masters |
| 1999 | Scottish Open |
| 1999 | World Snooker Championship |
| 1999 | British Open |
| 2001 | European Open |
| 2003 | Welsh Open |
| 2003 | British Open |
| 2005 | Malta Cup |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- The Masters (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996)
- Charity Challenge or Champions Cup (1995, 1997, 1999)
- Irish Masters (1992, 1997, 1999)
- Premier League (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2004)
- Scottish Masters (1989, 1990, 1995)
- Malta Grand Prix (1998, 2001)
- World Cup (1996)
- Nations Cup (2001)
- World Doubles Championship (1987)
- World Masters Men’s Doubles (1991)
Stephen Hendry and the Triple Crown
Stephen Hendry enjoyed unparalleled success across snooker’s three Triple Crown events, winning a total of 18 titles during his career.
- World Championship: 7 titles (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999)
- UK Championship: 5 titles (1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996)
- Masters: 6 titles (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996)
SHQ Star Rating: ★★★★★★★
SnookerHQ uses a seven-point star scale based on the scoring values of snooker balls, with a black (7) representing the highest career classification.
Stephen Hendry: ★★★★★★★
SHQ Star Rating: How it works →
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Featured photo credit: WSS