Stephen Hendry shows true colours on Ronnie O'Sullivan when asked about his records

Stephen Hendry has confessed he won’t be happy if Ronnie O’Sullivan wins an eighth World Snooker title.

Arguably the two greatest players in the history of the sport are locked on seven Crucible crowns each following the Rocket’s emotional 2022 triumph over Judd Trump. O’Sullivan’s attempts to go out on his own have floundered in the last two years with quarter-final defeats to Luca Brecel and Barry Hawkins.

During an interview with Andy Goldstein on his own Cue Tips show, Hendry, who retired earlier this year, admitted to sending Hawkins a love heart emoji after his 13-10 win over the 48-year-old. Pressed on how often he is asked about O’Sullivan winning an eighth world title, Hendry said: “A lot.”

On whether the perennial question annoyed him, he added: “No. Listen, I’m not going to lie. I won’t be happy if he does it.

“But he’s an unbelievable player and he’s taken the game to new levels. In a way, it will take the pressure off, I won’t get asked anymore.”

Given the competitiveness at the top of the game, O’Sullivan is running out of chances to go ahead of Hendry, who reckons his former rival doesn’t have the same competitive edge he used to have.

“His unbelievable performances are fewer and far between now,” said Hendry, 55, who won the last of his Crucible titles in 1999.

“I don’t think he’s got the same competitive juices that he had. But the Worlds, I think he’ll be up for it. The Masters, he’ll be up for it. But to me, it doesn’t look like he’s desperate to win.”

O’Sullivan has suggested the same himself, recently switching to playing left-handed during the recent Saudi Arabia Masters, where he reached the quarter-finals.

“I’ve had no feel for over two years now so it’s been really difficult to get any