O’Sullivan & Hendry compared, with Ronnie snubbing parties & Scot’s younger Wag

0

THEY are the two greatest snooker players of all-time.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, 47, and Stephen Hendry dominated the game in their respective eras.

Ronnie O'Sullivan celebrates winning his seventh World Championship

11

Ronnie O’Sullivan celebrates winning his seventh World ChampionshipCredit: Getty
Stephen Hendry dominated snooker in the 1990s and won at the Crucible a record seven times

11

Stephen Hendry dominated snooker in the 1990s and won at the Crucible a record seven timesCredit: PA:Press Association

The Scot smashed off seven world titles between 1990-1999.

While Rocket has just as many wins at the Crucible, following last year’s epic World Championship win.

But the Essex potter will have to wait to break his rival’s record after being dumped out of this year’s event in a shock quarter final loss to Luca Brecel.

Away from the baize, the pair lead different lifestyles.

Here’s how Hendy and O’Sullivan compare – starting off with their greatest achievement in sport.

Lucky number seven

The Golden Boy, as Hendry was known, took snooker by storm from a very young age.

By 16, he had turned professional, by 21 he was the youngest ever World Champion – and well on his way to making his now £12.5million fortune.

Ronnie, who also made his debut at the tender age of 16, was 25 when he was victorious in Sheffield for the first time.

Most read in Other Sports

But while he wasn’t the youngest, he made history as the oldest.

Last year’s World Championship win at 46 years and 148 days eclipsed previous oldie Ray Reardon’s record, who was 45 years and 203 days old when he claimed the title.

Hedonism? No thanks

Throughout his career, Hendry played life with a straight bat.

He once told the Big Issue: “I looked at Jimmy White gambling, drinking and going to nightclubs and thought it looked glamorous. But my management would say, “You are not going anywhere near that.”

“There were distractions everywhere if you wanted to go down that route. Alex Higgins struggled with drink all the way through his career – and he was not a nice drunk either. When he’d had a drink he was one to avoid. I saw the huge drinking culture.

“I would tell my younger self to choose moderation and definitely avoid drugs – from what I have seen, they seem ridiculously easy to get hold of.”

Hendry was, by admission, a ‘boring’ winning machine.

Stephen Hendry accrued a huge wealth from snooker - making around £12.5m

11

Stephen Hendry accrued a huge wealth from snooker – making around £12.5mCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Hendry was the straight-laced face of snooker

11

Hendry was the straight-laced face of snooker

Party boy

Hellraiser Ronnie embraced fame, making celeb pals along the way including Liam Gallagher, Rolling Stones rocker Ronnie Wood and artist Damien Hirst.

He threw himself into the party lifestyle, falling foul of “dangerous” nights out with the Oasis singer, as he called them.

In his mid-20s, O’Sullivan checked himself into the Priory to treat drug addiction, after admitting he was having suicidal thoughts.

His mental health was a continuous issue as he struggled with the pressures demanded of him.

That expectation led to depression, as he strived for the impossibility of perfection.

But, today’s Ronnie is a totally different animal.

After admitting he may have wasted nine years of his career through a hedonistic existence, he is teetotal.

O’Sullivan has swapped cannabis and booze to become a runner. He’s also devoted to yoga, pilates and healthy eating.

Self-confessed caner O'Sullivan embraced the party lifestyle with pals like Ronnie Wood

11

Self-confessed caner O’Sullivan embraced the party lifestyle with pals like Ronnie WoodCredit: Getty – Contributor
Today, O'Sullivan is teetotal and a devoted runner

11

Today, O’Sullivan is teetotal and a devoted runner

Wags

A year after retiring for the first time in 2012, Hendry’s personal life appeared to be crumbling underneath him too.

After confessing he was having an affair with children’s entertainer Lauren Thundow, he split from his wife of 19 years, Amanda in 2013.

In his autobiography Me and The Table, Hendry revealed he met Lauren at a snooker event where she was selling merchandise.

As that chapter of his life ended, Hendry handed Amanda their £1.2million sprawling estate in Auchterarder, Perthshire, as part of their divorce settlement.

O’Sullivan’s love life was just as turbulent.

Now, he’s settled with stunning Footballers’ Wives actress Laila Rouass.

They briefly split in 2022, but soon reconciled months later.

Hendry split with first wife Mandy after admitting having an affair with Lauren Thundow

11

Hendry split with first wife Mandy after admitting having an affair with Lauren ThundowCredit: PA:Press Association
Thundow, right, is 20-years younger than Hendry

11

Thundow, right, is 20-years younger than HendryCredit: PA
O'Sullivan is still together with actress Laila Rouass

11

O’Sullivan is still together with actress Laila RouassCredit: Rex

Before that, O’Sullivan was in a relationship with Sally Magnus, who gave birth to his first child, Taylor-Ann.

He then met Jo Langley at Narcotics Anonymous – and had two more children with her, Lily and Ronnie Jr.

The two were present last year when their dad achieved his record -equalling feat at the World Championships.

Reality TV

Embracing reality TV is something the pair have both done.

In Australia and the US, Ronnie starred in Hustle – a show that explores the history of pool.

It’s something he enjoyed so much, back in 2017 he considered dropping out of the World Championships to film a new series.

Ronnie has recently finished filming a warts-and-all documentary about his life too.

Hendry, on the other hand, ventured completely out of his comfort zone when he appeared on The Masked Singer.

Playing character Rubbish, he sang Kaiser Chiefs hit Ruby in a rubbish bin costume.

Woman who had a mummy makeover says she woke up looking like a box
I'm A Celebrity fans baffled as Carol Vorderman appears on This Morning
Stephen Hendry embraced reality TV on The Masked Singer

11

Stephen Hendry embraced reality TV on The Masked SingerCredit: ITV
O'Sullivan recently filmed a warts-and-all documentary about his life

11

O’Sullivan recently filmed a warts-and-all documentary about his lifeCredit: PA

Sadly, the general public thought his performance was close to his outfit.

However, in sporting terms, you could never accuse these two of being trash.

Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our  Twitter, & Facebook

We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.

For all the latest Snooker News Click Here 

Read original article here

Denial of responsibility! Rapidtelecast.com is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.
Leave a comment