Stephen Hendry recalls how ‘smirking’ Ronnie O’Sullivan left him fuming

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry had a famously bad tempered Crucible clash (Picture: Getty Images)

Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan’s grudge match from 2002 is very well documented, but the Scot says it was not just the explosive pre-match comments from the Rocket that wound him up.

The two snooker legends met in the semi-finals of the World Championship 24 years ago in a blockbuster contest over a best-of-33 frames.

The match was made a lot spicier by O’Sullivan’s unexpected comments about Hendry after downing Stephen Lee in the quarter-finals.

Insults, which Hendry remembers gave their game unique among all the matches he played over his career.

‘Thinking of the iconic matches we’ve had. Probably the only grudge match I’ve ever had in m...