STEPHEN HENDRY (Scotland)

World Ranking: 2

Age: 30

World Championship best: Winner six times (1990, 1992-94, 1995, 1996)

Best ranking event performance: Winner 30 tournaments - Grand Prix 1987, 1990, 1991, 1995; British Open 1988, 1991; Asian Open 1989, 1990; Dubai Duty Free Classic 1989, 1990, 1993; UK Championship 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996; Embassy World Championship 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996; Regal Welsh 1992, 1997; International Open 1993, 1997, 1999; European Open 1993, 1994; Thailand Masters 1998

1998/99 ranking form: Grand Prix - QF, UK - R1, Irish - QF, Welsh - RU, Scottish - Wnr, Thailand - QF, China - SF, British QF.

Just as Ray Reardon ruled snooker in the seventies and Steve Davis dominated the eighties, so Stephen Hendry has been the player of the nineties, joining them as one of the only men to have won the Embassy World Championship six times in the modern era.

As well as his six world titles, Hendry has won the UK Championship five times and the prestigious Benson & Hedges Masters on six occasions.

Victory in the 1998 Thailand Masters took Stephen Hendry to the front of the all time list of ranking event winners. His tally of 30 is two more than the previous record set by Steve Davis.

Had his run of 29 successive victories at The Crucible ended by Ken Doherty in the 1997 final.

He would have stayed at number one on the world rankings for a record ninth successive season had he beaten Jimmy White in their first round match at the Embassy World Championship last year.

He was voted World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) Player of the Year in 1990, 1991, 1992,1993, 1995 and 1996.

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