Snooker 1997 Liverpool Victoria Charity Challenge final – Ronnie O’Sullivan vs. Stephen Hendry
1997 Liverpool Victoria Charity Challenge final match between two of the snooker’s best, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan, is widely considered as one of the greatest fights in the history of Snooker.
This epic best-of-seventeen frames final match that had everything in it for the audience to see took place on January 5, 1997 in Birmingham, England.
The 42-year-old Scottish professional, Stephen Hendry, who is a seven-time world champion now, won this final by making a maximum break of 147 in the deciding frame even though he previously had lost six frames in a row. This is the only maximum break as
of yet that has ever been made in a deciding frame of a final. However, it was the Rocket, O’Sullivan, who made it a thriller by staging one of the greatest comebacks.
Hendry, who at that was the reigning world champion, was almost invincible in the earlier frames because he was playing on the top of his game. Hendry took all four frames before the interval break and he showcased classy back-to-back century breaks in the
first two.
Upon resuming the match, Ronnie won the fifth frame but Hendry restored his four-frame lead at 5-1 by winning following sixth. The seventh frame was over within a blink of an eye as this time Hendry fired in a carving break of 136 to further extend his lead
at 6-1.
However, the afternoon session ended up at 6-2 as Ronnie managed in winning the last frame but on resuming the game in the evening session it was once again Hendry who took the first two frames to leave his opponent down by 6 frames with seven to play, 8-2.
The match was almost through there since Hendry now just needed one more frame to reach the finish line before the Englishman, who was looking out of his form, left everyone flabbergasted by staging one of the greatest comebacks in the history of snooker.
Though Hendry had a great winning chance in the 12th frame, he surprisingly missed a simple black off the spot. Ronnie on the other hand quickly stepped in and compiled a mind-boggling break of 137 to make the score-line 8-4 before the mid-session
interval.
Upon returning, Ronnie again won the first frame to further reduce the deficit at 8-5. Hendry had his chances in the following frames but somehow he remained unlucky and O’Sullivan on the contrary was in no-mercy mood. Nevertheless, O’Sullivan who was looking
dead and buried won all of the frames and the match went into the final frame.
It was the time when everyone started thinking exactly opposite to what they had in their minds before about the match as O’Sullivan, who was the defending champion, shifted all the pressure on Hendry’s shoulders. But nobody in their wildest imaginations
had thought they would see a 147 from Hendry in the deciding frame.
Hendry, who is widely considered as one of the greatest players ever to holds a snooker cue, potted a magnificent first red under pressure before showcasing one of the best 147 breaks ever.
It was a real icing on the cake from the Maestro which left everyone shaking their heads in disbelief. Former snooker player Willie Thorne, who was commentating on the match, stated it was the greatest match he ever saw in his 20-year career.
Thorne remarked, “I've been a professional for 20 years and this is the greatest final I've ever seen. The greatest match that's ever been witnessed on television.”
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