Stephen Hendry MBE*

Early Years

Hendry first appeared on TV at age of 14 and later at 15 won the Scottish Amateur Championship. Hendry turned pro at only 16 and three months.

Style

Hendry is considered as the game's best break builder the game has ever seen. He is very methodical in building his breaks while keeping a moderate pace and very calm and relaxed manner. Hendry mastered the use of high-speed pots off the blue cannoning into the pack of reds, a shot now used frequently by all players. This shot allowed Hendry to feel as comfortable positioning himself on the blue as on the black ball.

Hendry's style is considered very aggressive, going for almost every potting opportunity available.

Although back now in the number one seed, Hendry's long breaks have not yet reached the heights of the 90's, and he has not been able to repeat his winnings of that time.

Professional Career

At 21 (1990) Hendry won his first Snooker World Championship and became the youngest player to ever win it. Later own he went to dominate the game of Snooker in the 90's with his last world Championship (seventh) won in 1999 over Steve Davis.

Hendry won 68 professional events in his career including 36 ranked events. He was ranked number one in the world between the years 1990-1998 (8 years in a row). Hendry has retained his number one ranking this season (2006/07).

Hendry last title was the Malta Cup in 2004/05 and despite not winning a single event in 2006, Hendry retained his number one ranking.

Hendry was awarded an MBE in 1994 and voted BBC Scotland's Sports Personality of the Year in 1987 and 1996. He has also been voted World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association Player of the Year on seven occasions.

Personal Life

Married to Mandy (1995) with two children: Blaine (1996) and Carter (2004)

Hobbies: Golf, Poker and Football

Career Highlights

Most Prize Money Won: around £8 million

Most 147 Breaks** achieved: 8 (was also the first player to achieve a highest break on a deciding frame of the 1997 Liverpool Victoria Charity Challenge).

Most Century Breaks: over 700! (691 professional ones as of the beginning of 2006)

Most Ranking Events Won: 36 (22 major titles) 

Most Winnings in the following tournaments: World Snooker Championship (7, of which 5 in a row), Masters Title (6), Grand Prix Titles (4).

Longest Winning Run: 10 months (5 events in 1990/1991).

Best Year: 1990/1991: 5 ranking events won

Most time as Number one in the world: 8 years (1990-1998).

Tournaments Won

World Championship: 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999
Rothmans Grand Prix: 1987, 1990, 1991
British Open: 1988, 1989, 1991, 1999, 2003
Skoda Grand Prix: 1995
Asian Open: 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994
Dubai Duty Free Classic: 1989, 1990, 1993
UK Championship: 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996
Benson & Hedges Masters: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996
Scottish Masters: 1989, 1990, 1995
Irish Masters: 1992, 1997, 1999
Malta Grand Prix: 1998, 2001, 2005

* Member of the British Empire  
** the highest break possible in a Snooker frame potting a black ball after every red ball