It did not feature a nailbiting climax but many believe the greatest match at the Crucible in terms of the standard of play was the semi-final of the 1999 Embassy World Championship between Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan.

This was one of those rare occasions when both players strike peak form simultaneously. Their attacking philosophy also contributed to the fluency of the exchanges and overall entertainment value. O’Sullivan compiled four century breaks but so did Hendry, who has scored a record 111 in total at the Crucible.

At 13-13, the outcome was impossible to predict but Hendry, as he so often did in his prime, found an extra gear when it mattered most to win 17-13. Two days later he beat Mark Williams 18-11 to win the event for the seventh time and become the Crucible’s most prolific champion.

Three years later, Hendry and O’Sullivan met in the semi-finals again, this time in what was the Crucible’s fiercest grudge match. Having been badly advised, O’Sullivan ripped into Hendry, for no apparent reason, before a ball was struck, outlining a desire to “send him back to his sad little life.”

Hugely riled, Hendry won 17-13, this time aided by five centuries.

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