Reigning world champion Stuart Bingham says Ronnie O'Sullivan must match Stephen Hendry's load of World Championship titles before being considered the greatest ever snooker player. Stephen Hendry won seven World Championships before retiring in 2012, while Ronnie O'Sullivan has won five titles up to this point.
"Ronnie is the best player to ever pick up a cue," Bingham, aged 39, said in an interview with BBC Sport. "But to be the greatest player you have to beat the records. Hendry was a born winner; he only loved winning and he was more ruthless than anyone. Ronnie is the most talented and the best in the world, but to be the greatest ever you need titles."
Last year Stuart Bingham was the surprise winner at the Crucible in Sheffield, beating favourite O'Sullivan en route to the title. "He is the only person in the game who has the aura that Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis had," Bingham added about Ronnie. "Whatever tournament he enters, he is probably going to be favourite - and rightly so. He is the best player in the world. Anyone now in the top 16 will fancy their chances. But, when it comes down to the crunch, to actually beat Ronnie, it's a different ball game."
O'Sullivan, who is one year older than Bingham, will be looking to add his sixth title at this year's World Championship, which kicks off on Saturday April 16. "The Rocket" is 7/4 at Bet 365 to win the world title this year.
Alexa Alexa 8 years ago
Stuart Bingham has every right to talk everything he wants,but it doesnt mean that he is talking good things. Ronnie O'Sullivan is great player and by many choices he is the best player of snooker ever.He really made snooker more popular then it was before and it is most important thing in his career.
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Milaneli
8 years ago
Stuart Bingham has no idea what he is talking about. For all the snooker fans, who are realistic, Ronnie O'Sullivan has and will be greatest of all times. I can't recall how many amazing moves I've seen from him over the years. He is pretty much only reason for me to turn Eurosport on my TV. I will never forget what I saw...
Stuart Bingham has no idea what he is talking about. For all the snooker fans, who are realistic, Ronnie O'Sullivan has and will be greatest of all times. I can't recall how many amazing moves I've seen from him over the years. He is pretty much only reason for me to turn Eurosport on my TV. I will never forget what I saw when I was a kid - in 1997 when he made fastest 147 up to date on World Championships. Only 5 minutes and 20 seconds. Mind=blown
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sharpe
8 years ago
Well, it's hard to comment that, Ronnie has been always my favourite player and I've had watched Henry too and I think he's nowhere near to the Ronnie's talent, but Steven though had that killer instinct which made him so great champion. In fact I think Stuart Bingham is right in all that he said and I just hope Ronnie...
Well, it's hard to comment that, Ronnie has been always my favourite player and I've had watched Henry too and I think he's nowhere near to the Ronnie's talent, but Steven though had that killer instinct which made him so great champion. In fact I think Stuart Bingham is right in all that he said and I just hope Ronnie will be concentrated on his Snooker in the next years which is always the key for him, and he could be the Greatest ever because he's the most natural gifted player that sport ever seen and probably we won't see another one similar to him in our life time.
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