Stephen Hendry

Stephen Gordon Hendry is the most successful snooker player and the greatest player in the sport’s history; no snooker fan would disagree with this statement.

The Golden Boy was the no.1 ranked player from 1990 to 1997 and yet again, later in 2006. Hendry holds the record for the most seasons as the no.1 player; he was ranked no.1 for nine seasons.

After winning his first World Championship in 1990, he became the youngest player ever to lift the title at 21.

Fast forward to the 2012 World Championship, which he lost to Stephen Maguire, after which he announced his retirement. A 31-year long legendary career came to an end that year.

But in September of 2020, he announced that he would be back for an invitational game at the World Snooker Tour for two seasons. After a delayed start, he played his first-ever match in 9 years in the Gibraltar Open in March of 2021.

But what’s the story behind his success? Did he retire of old age or health conditions? Spoiler alert: it’s a health condition.

Let’s look beneath his legendary status to see what his innocent self looks like, the character not many know of.

Stephen Hendry | Quick Facts

Full Name Stephen Gordon Hendry
Birth Date 13th January 1969
Birth Place South Queensferry, West Lothian, Scotland
Current Residence Auchterarder, Tayside, Scotland
Nick Name The Great One, The Wonder, The Golden Boy, The King of Crucible, and The Maestro
Religion Christianity
Nationality Scottish
Famous for being Snooker player
Ethnicity Caucasian
Education
  • Inverkeithing High School
  • Queensferry High School
Horoscope Capricon
Father’s Name Gordon Hendry
Mother’s Name Irene Hendry
Siblings A brother
Age 53 years old
Height 6 feet 1 inch
Weight N/A
Hair Color Grey
Eye Color Blue
Build Plus-size
Hobbies Playing golf and poker
Favorite Destination N/A
Profession Pro snooker player
Marital Status Unmarried but not single
Kids Two sons (Blaine and Carter)
Net Worth $16,500,000
Merch Clothing Merch, Me and the Table (Book)
Last Updated July, 2022

Stephen Hendry | The Beginning

Gordon and Irene Hendry welcomed Stephen Hendry into the world on January 13, 1969.

Born and raised in Auchterarder, Tayside, Scotland, his family later relocated to Dalgety Bay, where they lived in a bungalow designed in the 1970s. “Our previous home was smaller, so this was a move up for us. My mom, dad, brother, and I all resided there, he continued.

He didn’t have a favorite room in the house’s six total rooms; instead, the one with the TV served as his hangout space.

Hendry recalled, “I would always be watching snooker and my hero, Jimmy White.

Prior to receiving a small snooker table for Christmas 1982, he and his friends mostly played football outside. When he was 13 years old, snooker took up all of his free time.

After becoming fixated on the sport, Hendry visited a bar in Dunfermline to play on a full-size snooker table.

Unfortunately, things became complicated; when Hendry was 15 years old, his parents got divorced, forcing him and his brother to move into a council home in the Kirkliston village.

Fortunately, snooker was what forced him to endure that period.

Stephen Hendry: Husband and Children
His initial love

Before divorcing in 2014, Stephen Hendry had been wed to Mandy Tart since they were teenagers for nearly two decades.

At the age of 16, Hendry first encountered Mandy at a Pontins summer camp. He liked Mandy right away, and vice versa.

From the beginning of his amateur snooker career until the end of his professional snooker career, Mandy supported him. That kind of loyalty is uncommon to find, to be sure.

The split and fresh romance

Stephen Hendry divorced his 19-year wife in 2014 to pursue a new relationship. Hendry’s divorce from his wife for a new love was not mutual.

Despite the admiration he has earned for his illustrious career, that action was inappropriate for someone of his stature.

He allegedly fell in love with Lauren Thunder, a children’s performer and actress who was 26 at the time.

Hendry revealed how, while still married to Mandy, he fell for Lauren. He claimed to have met Lauren while she was selling merchandise following a Legends snooker exhibition.

“She’s pretty, and we smile at each other, but I don’t take it seriously. In his autobiography, Stephen Hendry wrote, “We gradually start to say ‘Hi’ and share some small talk.

He added that he doesn’t go stomping over any woman who catches his eye.

The couple grew closer over time, and since the Legends event was supported by the same crew, Lauren and Hendry had plenty of opportunities to get to know one another.

We eventually realize that we are falling in love. That is very alarming. I’ve been with the woman I’m married to for almost 30 years,” Hendry wrote.

You might be interested in reading about Cole Hamels’ spouse, Heidi Stroble:

Kids

With Mandy, Hendry has two sons. Blaine Hendry, the eldest son, was born in 1996, and Carter Hendry, the second son, was born in 2004.

There is little information available about the two sons, neither of whom have followed in their father’s footsteps.

About Stephen Hendry
Hobby Career

His father gave him a kid-sized snooker table for Christmas when he was 12 years old. When Stephen was 14, he won the Scottish U-16 Championship, demonstrating the value of that investment.

The following year, he also won the Scottish Amateur Championship and was the youngest competitor to ever compete in the World Amateur Championship.

He only played snooker for two years before winning a national title, so it’s almost as if he was born with all the natural talents needed to succeed at the game.

He turned pro and successfully defended his Scottish Amateur Championship title the following year, in 1985. The youngest player to ever turn professional, he was only 16 years and three months old at the time.

Hendry already had a solid reputation in his own nation. The only thing left to do was win the international competitions.

Career in the Profession

Hendry participated in the Mercantile Credit Classic to begin his professional career; he advanced to the round of 32 but lost. However, it’s still remarkable for a 16-year-old.

The No. 1 qualified for the World Championship at the youngest age ever; Luca Brecel beat him to the record in 2012.

He unfortunately lost to Willie Throne early on in the World Championship.

Hendry defeated Jim Donnelly to successfully defend his Scottish Professional Championship crown in 1987. He advanced to the Grand Prix and World Championship quarterfinals in the same year.

Hendry and Joe Johnson were playing toe-to-toe in the quarterfinals of the World Championship when Hendry blundered and missed a red ball. He lost the entire game as a result of that one error. Johnson took the lead and eventually the match (13-12).

Regarding the Grand Prix, Hendry defeated Dennis Taylor in the finals to win his first ranking title.

He eventually went on to win his second-ranking title the following year, in 1988. He defeated Mike Hallett in the championship match of the British Open (13-2).

Additionally, he and Mike Hallett won the World Doubles Championship, which they successfully defended the following year. He also won the Scottish Professional Championship. In the same year, he also triumphed at the Australian Masters.

Hendry’s outstanding performance that season earned him a spot in the top 4 on the global leaderboard. The BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year award went to him as well.

Sadly, he failed to win any ranking titles the following season, but he did manage to win a few smaller awards. Hendry triumphed in the 1989 New Zealand Masters and the Wembly Masters.

World Championship and Number One Ranking

The 1989–1990 season saw the emergence of Stephen Hendry’s dominant play. That year, he won a total of six titles.

In the season’s championship match against Jimmy White, he captured his first World Championship crown. At the age of 21, he was the top-ranked snooker player thanks to this accomplishment, which put him at the top of the leaderboard.

He won the Dubai Classic, UK Championship, Asian Classic, Wembly Masters, and Scottish Masters in addition to the World Championship.

Hendry was on fire the following season, 1990/91, winning a record-breaking five world ranking titles in a single campaign. This was his third straight victory for the title, among which Wembly Masters was also.

He once again faced Mike Hallett in the championship match; Hallett won with a score of 0-7; if someone had told you Hendry would come back, you probably would not have believed them.

The score went from 0-7 to 2-8 as a result of Hendry’s impossible comeback, and Hallett was unable to claim a single frame. Hendry won the game 9-8 in the end. What a memorable comeback, right there!

Gordon unfortunately failed to successfully defend his title during the World Championship tournament. He was defeated by Steve James in the quarterfinals.

Hendry has successfully defended the World Championship title five times in a row.

He won the World Championship title again the following year, in 1991–1992, by defeating Jimmy White in the championship match. And He changed the match’s score from 8-14 to 18-14 by winning 10 of the last 12 frames. He is what? A king of comebacks?

Additionally, he triumphed in the Welsh Open, Masters, and Grand Prix during the same period. He now had his fourth consecutive Master.

Hendry played in the Matchroom League, where he received his first professional break.

He successfully defended both his World Championship and his sixth straight Master’s championship during the 1992–1993 season. A year later, he defeated Jimmy White by one frame to successfully defend his World Championship title once more (18-17).

He kept his World Championship crown in 1995 and 1996, but Ken Doherty won the following year. And He was the only player in snooker history to hold the World Championship title for five straight years.

He received the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) honor during the 1994–1995 campaign. Additionally, he took home the UK Championship, which he kept the season after.

According to snooker journalist David Hendon, his seven centuries against Ken Doherty in the 1994 UK Championship finals are “probably the finest anyone has ever played.”

Aspects of Stephen Hendry’s Playing

Hendry played the game methodically. He took his time and wasn’t anxious to rack up additional points. Additionally, he created the general strategy that the majority of players presently employ.

With a fast hit and a bottom spin on the cue ball to race towards the pink, Hendry made the blue the first color to be potted. To build the game, the idea is to unpack the disorganized pack of red cards.

Prior to Hendry introducing the world to this strategy, players would break the jumbled reds from a pot of black, taking into account the potential risk of the white going in off after striking the red or pink ball.

He was also highly lauded for his long-shot accuracy in addition to his steady break-building. Additionally, he frequently potted nalls when breaking.

He was a reliable player, but he also played aggressively frequently. Instead of waiting for the open reds to be potted, Hendry frequently attempted to break the pack of reds early in the game.

Additionally, even in the most competitive circumstances, he attempted difficult shots. He accumulated almost 700 century breaks with his playing technique.

And He gradually lost his break-building and long-potting skills as old age set in. He told the reporters that he suffers from “The Yips,” a medical disorder that causes uncontrollable, abrupt arm and leg movements.

Stephen Hendry Ranking Titles

  • 1987 Grand Prix against Dennis Taylor (10-7).
  • 1988 British Open facing Mike Hallett (13-2).
  • 1989 Asian Open against James Wattana (9-2).
  • 1989 Dubai Classic against Doug Mountjoy (9-2).
  • UK Championship 1989 against Steve Davis (16-12).
  • 1990 World Snooker Championship against Jimmy White (18-12).
  • 1990 Grand Prix against Nigel Bond (10-5).
  • Dubai Classic 1990 against Steve Davis (9-1).
  • 1990 Asian Classic against Dennis Taylor (9-3).
  • 1990 UK Championship against Steve Davis (16-15).
  • 1991 British Open against Gary Wilkinson (10-9).
  • 1991 Grand Prix against Steve Davis (10-6).
  • 1992 Welsh Open against Darren Morgan (9-3).
  • 1992 World Snooker Championship against Jimmy White (18-14).
  • 1993 International Open against Steve Davis (10-6).
  • 1993 World Snooker Championship against Jimmy White (18-5).
  • Dubai Classic 1993 against Steve Davis (9-3).
  • 1993 Europen Open against Ronnie O’Sullivan (9-5).
  • 1994 World Snooker Championship against Jimmy White (18-17).
  • 1994 UK Championship against Ken Doherty (10-5).
  • European Open 1994 against John Parrott (9-3).
  • 1995 World Snooker Championship against Nigel Bond (18-9).
  • 1995 Grand Prix against John Higgins (9-5).
  • UK Championship 1995 against Peter Ebdon (18-12).
  • 1996 World Snooker Championship against Peter Ebdon (18-12).
  • 1996 UK Championship against John Higgins (10-9).
  • 1997 Welsh Open against Mark King (9-2).
  • 1997 International Open against Tony Drago (9-1).
  • 1998 Thailand Master against John Parrott (9-6).
  • 1999 Scottish Open against Graeme Dott (9-1).
  • 1999 World Snooker Championship against Mark Williams (18-11).
  • The 1999 British Open against Peter Ebdon (9-1).
  • 2001 European Open against Joe Perry (9-2).
  • 2003 Welsh Open against Mark Williams (9-5).
  • 2003 British Open against Ronnie O’Sullivan (9-6).
  • 2005 Malta Cup against Graeme Dott (9-7).

Stephen Hendry | Awards

His very first major award is the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), which he received in 1993.

Moreover, he was the BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year for two years, in 1987 and in 1996.

Likewise, Hendry is a 6 time WPBSA Player of the Year. He took home the award six consecutive times from 1990 to 1996.

Prior to that, he was also the 1988 WPBSA Young Player of the Year. Lastly, he received the WPBSA Performance of the Year in the year 1995, which marks his last major award.

Stephen Hendry | Net Worth

Surely, winning 7 world titles filled his pocket with a whole lot of money, besides that he has won several other major ranking titles in his pro snooker career. In addition to that, he has also won numerous minor league titles.

Mr. 7 times World Snooker Champion has won £8.97 million (approximately 12 million dollars) from all the tournaments he participated in. Not accounting for the minor and non-ranking tournaments.

As of 2022 his net worth is estimated to be 16.5 million dollars.

Social Media Links

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FAQs

Who is the greatest snooker player of all time?

Stephen Hendry along with Ronnie O’Sullivan is regarded as the greatest snooker player of all time.

Stephen has also commented on Ronnie, admitting that Ronnie is the toughest opponent he has ever faced but he also said that he would claim the victory if they both played at their peak.

How many championships did Stephen Hendry win?

Gordon has won the World Snooker Championship 7 times. He retained the title from 1992 to 1996. The player holds the record for the most World Championship but that might change soon as Ronnie is set on beating his record. Steph is a legendary player but Ronnie is the future, the modern-day snooker king.

Who has made the most 147 breaks in snooker?

Ronnie O’Sullivan made 15 174-breaks, making him the player with the most 147s. Meanwhile has made Stephen Hendry has made 11.

What is Stephen Hendry’s current ranking?

Stephen Hendry currently ranks at 95th on the world leader board. Even after retiring from professional snooker in 2012, he still makes it to the top 100 snooker players in the world currently. That deserves nothing but respect.

How many titles does Stephen Hendry have?

Stephen has a total of 36 ranking titles along with 39 non-ranking titles. Moreover, he has also won numerous awards throughout his career for his unmatched performances.

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