A pair of sporting legends have knocked fans’ socks off with an unbelievable throwback photograph.
The duo have accumulated 14 world titles between them in their chosen sport.
But you would barely be able to tell that Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry had ever met if all you had to go on was this picture.
That’s because the snooker kings, now 49 and 56 respectively, look completely different as they attended a black-tie party as young bucks back in the early 1990s.
They first played against each other professionally in 1993 in Dubai before O’Sullivan stunned his opponent to claim his first UK Championship.
Obviously, they have dominated the sport, both claiming seven world titles each.
Stephen Hendry (left) has posted a throwback photograph with Ronnie O’Sullivan (right)
The same duo are pictured in 2008, with O’Sullivan (left) celebrating after beating Hendry in the world semi-finals
Hendry, who retired from snooker for a second time last year, shared the throwback photograph of the duo on Instagram.
‘Found this picture, thought it would make a good throwback,’ he wrote.
‘The first time I ever played Ronnie. It was in an exhibition in Essex, probably around 1990 judging by my horrendous mullet. I’m guessing he was about 14.’
Hendry dominated the 1990s, winning a whopping seven world titles in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1999.
In four of those he beat fellow Brit Jimmy White, who had the misfortune of being runner-up five years on the run between 1990 and 1994. White never won a world title despite reaching six finals all in all.
O’Sullivan came along and equalled Hendry’s record of world crowns, but surpassed him with overall ranking titles, winning a record 41 to the Scot’s 36.
His first encounter on home soil against Hendry was at the 1993 UK Championship,where O’Sullivan won the final 10-6.
The Rocket recalled to Eurosport: ‘Obviously not as much pressure on me as there probably was on Stephen because he was the best player in the world and no-one knew who I was at that time.
O’Sullivan drew level with Hendry for seven world titles in 2022, and has won more ranking titles (41 to 36)
‘So, obviously I was kind of coming in under the radar. I played him in a tournament before and felt like I’d maybe missed a few chances and gave him a bit too much respect.
‘And I think in the next match, I thought maybe just go in there believing you could beat this legend of the game.’
And he had previously told the same outlet: ‘I’d seen Stephen Hendry when he was 15 in Hastings and I’d heard a lot about this kid who was meant to be unbelievable.
‘He was playing in a club against a guy called Paul Tanner, who was as good an amateur who there was on the circuit and Hendry made him look silly.
‘He was bouncing round the table with a confidence and an arrogance and I remember thinking I’d never seen anyone play snooker like this in my life.
‘I went home and said “I’ve seen the best player I’ve ever seen, this geezer is unbelievable.” Three years on he won the Rothmans [1987 Grand Prix, his first ranking title] and then took over.’
