STEPHEN HENDRY has lifted the lid on the “worst final I’ve ever seen”, admitting the 2024 clash was a “tough watch” for fans and pundits alike.
Hendry, 55, knows a thing or two about finals after winning a joint-record seven snooker World Championships.
GettyStephen Hendry has revealed the worst final he’s ever seen[/caption]
His first victory in 1990 saw him become the youngest world champ ever aged 21 years and 106 days.
And Hendry’s 36 ranking title wins have only been surpassed by the 41 won by Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Now, the snooker legend works as a pundit after retiring for a second time last year.
But Hendry reckons 2024 also saw the “worst final” in snooker history.
The ace claims Mark Allen and Zhang Anda produced a real snore-fest in the final of the Players Championship.
Northern Ireland star Allen beat his Chinese opponent 10-8 to claim the £125,000 jackpot.
He even admitted “it wasn’t a lot of fun” after making just one century.
And Hendry believes it was even harder to take in watching from the side.
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He told Cue Tips: “I have to say, because I remember working on it for ITV, it was probably the worst final I’ve ever watched.
“Against Zhang Anda, it was probably the worst final I’ve ever seen, it was horrendous.
GettyHendry slated the Players Championship final between Mark Allen and Zhang Anda[/caption]
“But at the end of the day you win a trophy. I’ve played in some shocking matches and won, in my career. But that was a tough watch.”
Hendry went on to explain that Allen’s slow style of play did not help matters.
He added: “There’s not a player in the world who doesn’t benefit from picking up the pace a bit.
“But I’m reluctant to criticise anyone too much that’s picking up the trophies he’s been picking up the last two or three years.
“You can’t say it’s wrong. But now I think he’s suffering a little bit from the way he’s played.”
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
1969 – John Spencer
1970 – Ray Reardon
1971 – John Spencer
1972 – Alex Higgins
1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
1977 – John Spencer (2)
1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
1979 – Terry Griffiths
1980 – Cliff Thorburn
1981 – Steve Davis
1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
1983 – Steve Davis (2)
1984 – Steve Davis (3)
1985 – Dennis Taylor
1986 – Joe Johnson
1987 – Steve Davis (4)
1988 – Steve Davis (5)
1989 – Steve Davis (6)
1990 – Stephen Hendry
1991 – John Parrott
1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
1997 – Ken Doherty
1998 – John Higgins
1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
2000 – Mark Williams
2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
2002 – Peter Ebdon
2003 – Mark Williams (2)
2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
2005 – Shaun Murphy
2006 – Graeme Dott
2007 – John Higgins (2)
2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
2009 – John Higgins (3)
2010 – Neil Robertson
2011 – John Higgins (4)
2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
2014 – Mark Selby
2015 – Stuart Bingham
2016 – Mark Selby (2)
2017 – Mark Selby (3)
2018 – Mark Williams (3)
2019 – Judd Trump
2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
2021 – Mark Selby (4)
2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
2023 – Luca Brecel
2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
2 – Alex Higgins
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