Crucible Classics #3

At number three in my countdown is:

3. 1994 Final: Stephen Hendry 18-17 Jimmy White
7-94(60); 64-52; 89(50)-0; 68-21; 93(50)-24; 76(76)-0; 1-85(63); 68(57)-70; 42-85(58); 29-72(61); 15-110(58); 37-84; 71(63)-54(54); 59-60; 94(66)-27; 15-64; 71-26; 89(89)-0; 0-77(77); 25-69; 73(53)-4; 88(87)-13; 53-64; 72(52)-34; 56-61; 68-31; 66-34; 67-34; 0-116(116); 72-39; 66(51)-71; 66-67; 68-0; 0-85(75); 82(58)-37

Match progress: 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7, 6-7, 6-8, 7-8, 7-9, 8-9, 9-9, 9-10, 9-11, 10-11, 11-11, 11-12, 12-12, 12-13, 13-13, 14-13, 15-13, 15-14, 16-14, 16-15, 16-16, 17-16, 17-17, 18-17

What are your memories/observations of this Crucible Classic?

One of the greatest finals ever that could have gone either way. Got to feel for Jimmy but Stephen Hendry proved once again that he was the best player in the world. I still don't think the black Jimmy missed was as easy as people make out. It was very missable. I think he under hit his last position shot by at least a foot. If he had an easier black compared to that one then it would more than likely have been a different story.

Juddernaut88 wrote:I think he under hit his last position shot by at least a foot.

I've always said that. Should still have potted it, but it was just about missable.

White played a fantastic second session and Hendry was right up against it.

The third session was important for Hendry and to come out level was a great result for him.

The final frame was a blur. At the time I felt White wouldn't win but looking back and if I had paused it just before White missed I would have said he was going to win.

Many will say White deserved to win a World Championship but you win what you deserve to win.

In many ways his great mate Alex Higgins prevented him becoming a multiple World Champion because had he not denied him with that 69 break in '82 White probably would have won The World Championship that year and he would then have been able to relax and would not have had that 'Albatross' around his neck for so long and may have won quite a few World Titles.

Possibly the best match ever. The ultimate happy ending goes sour.

KrazeeEyezKilla wrote:Possibly the best match ever. The ultimate happy ending goes sour.

Had White won, it would probably be considered the best match ever.

It wasnt the easiest black ever but he really missed it by a mile.

I am a bit non plussed by the final. White played better in the first three sessions in 1992. Hendry played better throughout the 1993 final.

1992 was better than 1994 in terms of quality of play.