Ronnie O'Sullivan 'is the GOAT' and an 'artist' says Stephen Hendry as Rocket hunts eighth crown at The Masters

ByEurosport

Published 11/01/2024 at 10:20 GMT

Stephen Hendry is adamant the question over who is the snooker GOAT is no longer up for debate with his fellow seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan carrying the sport to a new level with his eighth UK Championship win last month. O'Sullivan continues his chase for a record-extending eighth Masters title against Barry Hawkins on Thursday afternoon at Alexandra Palace.

Snooker as you've never seen it before: Watch No Filter from O'Sullivan's win over Ding

Stephen Hendry insists the debate over who is the snooker GOAT is no longer a valid argument due to "artist" Ronnie O'Sullivan's remarkable longevity and ongoing ability to adapt since he turned professional in 1992.

UK champion O'Sullivan holds all the main records in the game – including seven Masters titles, 40 ranking event trophies, 15 147s and 1,232 centuries – with Hendry's seven world titles in the 1990s matched by O'Sullivan with his 18-13 win over Judd Trump in the 2022 Crucible final.

2005 world champion Shaun Murphy discussed O'Sullivan's attributes with Hendry as they scribbled down words on a chalk board.

World Championship

'Every part of his game is really sharp' - White and McManus rave about O'Sullivan form

00:01:31

Yesterday at 07:14

"Stephen, I feel safe these days with the word I'm about to write: GOAT, " said Murphy on the BBC.

"He is the GOAT because he's taken the game onto a new level," agreed Hendry, who has made 777 career tons.

"One of the reasons he's taken the game onto a new level is because he is an artist."

"He's had more wins, he has earned more money and had more centuries than any other player," said Murphy, who meets Jack Lisowski in the second Masters quarter-final on Thursday night.

"I don't think you can make the argument any more."

O'Sullivan: I embrace the pressure now

"You cannot," agreed Hendry. "I put artist because his cue ball control is on another level.

"When he gets in, he's adapted his game over the years and his break-building.

"He used to be going into the pack to split them up, but now he cherry picks the reds, because his cue ball control is so good."

O'Sullivan and Murphy are infamously not the best of friends away from the baize, but the Players and Tour champion has the greatest respect for the world No. 1, citing his work with six-time world champion Ray Reardon two decades ago in improving his tactical game as key to becoming "the complete player".

O'Sullivan faces Barry Hawkins in the opening quarter-final of the Masters on Thursday afternoon in a repeat of the 2016 final which he won 10-1 at the Alexandra Palace.

O'Sullivan knocks in superb 127 break in win over Ding

"He's incredible to watch," said Murphy. "It's almost like he challenges himself when he's out there. Almost like this game is too easy. Almost like he wants to play the game in its purist form.

"He would have been just splashing the reds, and clearing up years ago.

"I think the challenge aspect keeps his focus. We didn't think your century record would be beaten, but he's closing in on twice as many and is well into the 1200s.

"Incredible break-builder, incredible long potter and of course, we go back to when he teamed with Reardon all those years ago, and he did become the complete player."

As a cue ball chameleon beyond compare, Hendry believes O'Sullivan can live with any opponent in snooker on any level when he puts his mind to it.

"He adapts to every situation, every opponent, changes his game," said Hendry. "If an opponent wants to play safe, he's happy doing it. If an opponent wants to go all out potting, he's happy doing that."

"But you don't know what you are going to get," added Murphy. "I suppose that's part of the excitement, he's an enigma, he's the crowd favourite, when people come to watch him they don't know which Ronnie is going to turn up.

"Though in recent years, he has been much more consistent, and has become more predictable.

"But we don't have to go too far back to find a dark side. He doesn't like authority. He's a rebel. Is he the Darth Vadar of snooker?"