by Pink Ball » 08 May 2018 Read
I've done a lot of winding up re Hendry this week, but I've no doubt he's one of the top two best players I've ever seen. Even in a weak era, seven world titles is hugely impressive.
I just happen to be more impressed by O'Sullivan's five world titles than I am by Hendry's seven. Clive Everton, someone I respect, says that achievements outweigh opinions every time, and I agree wit thath. That's why I place more emphasis on titles than other measurements. But to say some achievements are harder won than others is also true.
O'Sullivan faced and thrived against greater opposition for longer and more impressively than Hendry, and may yet get to six or even seven titles. His achievements in the World Championship, by the time his career ends, will be roughly level with Hendry's, despite having faced tougher opposition for longer. He will finish his career with more triple crowns than Hendry. He will also comfortably overtake his ranking title tally, but you must remember that Hendry had far fewer ranking titles to go at back in his day.
O'Sullivan, like Higgins and Williams, is also benefiting from the weak era that is there now, but none of them played in this era during their prime years, unlike Hendry, who was at his best or nearly at his best during a weak era.
None of these players have put it beyond doubt unlike, say, Nadal, who was won his clay court titles across multiple eras. Nobody in their right mind could say Nadal is not the greatest clay court tennis player ever. Taylor put it beyond doubt in darts. He won a huge number of titles in a weak era, but also won many major titles in dart's strongest era when he was past his prime. They are as close to undisputed as you'll get in terms of GOAT discussions. Federer has also been hugely successful in both weak eras and very strong eras, and I don't think anyone could deny that he's the greatest tennis player of all time.
O'Sullivan will never put it beyond doubt, just as Hendry didn't. Maybe Snooker GOATs are not at the same level as other GOATs!