‘You can’t play snooker better’ – Stephen Hendry backs Ronnie O’Sullivan for World Championship title

Stephen Hendry cannot see anyone even competing with Ronnie O’Sullivan at this year’s World Snooker Championship, if he continues the superb form he has shown in his three matches so far.

The Rocket dominated his quarter-final against Stephen Maguire, thrashing the Scot 13-5, which followed a 13-4 demolition of Mark Allen and a comfortable 10-5 victory over Dave Gilbert.

Despite facing three tough opponents, O’Sullivan has looked almost entirely unchallenged and Hendry cannot see any player putting him under pressure if he keeps playing this way – even with a possible semi-final against John Higgins ahead.

‘Before the quarter-finals started, the standout performers were Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams, but I’m struggling to see anyone who could compete with Ronnie,’ Hendry said on the BBC.

‘He’s just supreme in all departments. He looks focused, he’s scoring when he gets in, it’s going to take something to beat him.’

Stuart Bingham says Judd Trump holds no aura ahead of World Championship clash

Snooker's UK Championship gets huge revamp and added prize money

Robertson philosophical about Crucible struggles: 'How could I complain about my career?'

O’Sullivan and Maguire returned to the table on Wednesday morning with the six-time world champ needing just two frames for victory and he wrapped it up in no time at all, making breaks of 71 and 126 to secure the win.

Hendry was mesmerised by the final break of the match, believing it illustrated how the Rocket has taken snooker to a new level beyond anyone else.

‘That’s probably the best and most clinical he’s been in the whole match,’ said the seven-time world champion. ‘That last frame was just artistry with the cue ball, it really was nobody does it better.

‘You can’t play snooker