Stephen Hendry v Jimmy White, 1992 Snooker: World Championship

82 was a absolute horrific ear. But that was not for our defending

champion John. In fact, that was reserved for Stephen Hendry and

Jimmy White. Little did they know they would see a a lot of each other

on these occasions in the coming years. Jimmy White was on fire, he

got to a maximum break. So too was Stephen Hendry. I met him again at

the second time of the final, it was obviously very unique.

The referee just asked a spectator if he would not mind just not

Well, Stephen Hendry thought about that for a long time eventually he

turned down to safety. Once again, a good opportunity for

Accra one. -- for Stephen Hendry. Best of 35 frames, but the care is

equipped tension in this opening frame. -- but the air.

That is just another very well played shot from Stephen Hendry.

Chance in that right-hand corner pocket. Certainly, it is great for

Stephen Hendry to get a nice break together. This is only the first

frame but Jimmy White will be very anxious to get into the match as

soon as possible, because he lost it last year to the semifinalist. The

opening session I should say. Yes and I think this is just a start

,for Stephen. Stilll he has a Even though, this frame is already

one Stephen Hendry will want to keep Jimmy White is still in his chair,

feeling quite cold. Yes, Clive, and the way that he is

going he might just do that. And what a start this is. This has been

a tremendous break after a long safety bout.

That is a century break in the first half of this world final. 105.

So, that is the opening frame for Stephen Hendry. Jimmy White

responded quite well, but it wasn't him but rather his opponent who went

very well and edged forward towards the Masters.

Tempted to not only got the red, but also go for the black.

There have not been many easy balls that have been mixed. -- been

missed. So will Stephen Hendry make Jimmy

White pay for that miss? Only one loose red right to the green. The

pack is not mixed, and it could be opened up quite nicely.

Somewhat unorthodox shot. He must have calculated that at worst he

would have had some sort of a shot to the black. So, in the last frame

Stephen Hendry missed a couple of easy balls, but still managed to win

it. Jimmy White missed an easy ball there and Stephen Hendry did not

take advantage. Certainly, is giving Jimmy White a good chance to hit

back year. There are many reds available. There are still many big

colours available. He overhit that one, he was playing

for the blue in the centre. Jimmy White will be going for one of those

two reds. This time there is a choice of four

And we both know what a big shot have to

And we both know what a big shot this pink is. All the other reds

have been nicely put around the pink spot. And again. Jimmy White has now

found a gap, but he still has a red in his left-hand corner pocket.

Well, I do not know what distracted him for a moment there. A butterfly

or something. And now if Jimmy White can just

screw shot those four shots in the black, he can get a pot on that far

right corner. By moving that red of course, he has opened up the past

for the black in his left-hand corner. I certainly expect him to

clinch the frame in this next visit. Twice now, Stephen Hendry has been

in front. Jimmy White is responding now and he will respond again.

He made pot the black of course, with 43 in front and 43 left on the

table. APPLAUSE It should be easy enough, but I

wonder if he is aware of this call. -- of this score.

So just 100 14 Jimmy White. That would be a fitting end to an

excellent session of snooker for him. Jimmy White just hit the ball

quite sweetly in this break. He has worked and practice all of his life

for this. This is his heart's desire. A world title. All the

necessary touch and ability is there. If only he can get to the

table often enough to use it. APPLAUSE APPLAUSE.

It was only a few more frames before Jimmy White stole the next frame

seven. As we go back to them it is Stephen Hendry ahead of the table,

with 53 points ahead. What is happening here? Wow, Jimmy

White is looking at that and he could not understand it.

It is very tense. Well, he was a long, long way away with that one.

He would like to kiss the ball into the baulk area.

We see it Jimmy White thinking it is close. We see him thinking, does the

blue cover the red? If it does, that may cost him the frame.

Lovely camera shot there, showing you the swerve on the cue ball just

sufficiently to take the red away from the pocket.

That was the ball that Stephen Hendry wanted.

61 points ahead, but we must remember that they are 67 points

left on the table. -- that there are.

Good shot which was well appreciated from the audience. However, this

will be the key shot. Jimmy White needs all the balls remaining.

That is not too bad. The only way he could develop the red was to run

into it and get it into the left centre. There are other reds

available. So there is a chance. I say at hands in a contest --

chance in a contest which is at a such high standard.

A little bit straight on the black, more than what he would have liked.

He may have to play a positional shot, next to that thread. -- that

red. He is just glancing at the

scoreboard there, seeing the situation.

He really needs a good pot now. APPLAUSE

And Jimmy White does not fail us. APPLAUSE

So he is just 25 points behind. These six colours could keep him at

the frame. -- give him the frame. Stephen Hendry has missed just one

red in this frame. However, that red was the most important red of the

whole frame. I think, Jimmy White has underhit that. Jimmy White will

have quite a bit of work to do now. He has pleaded well. This is a big

frame. Stephen Hendry has had a good chance. But, is this the winning

chance? So, a break of 63. The first frame of the evening and a two frame

lead. Like Stephen Hendry, Jimmy White

came to the Crucible in good form. He won six titles that season. He

kept continuing it here. He had a five frame lead. He was looking very

much on track for the title, Stephen Hendry now trailing by 11 frames to

six. The first chance of a pot for

Stephen Hendry. You can just see it that red near the pot in the corner.

He is barely in the middle. Yes, that is a mistake by Jimmy White, he

has missed the black and opened up the red of course.

He is playing with such a calmness and dedication. Yes, that has an

angle on it and it can disturb a couple of reds. He didn't catch any

of the others, but there are still some open reds here.

He missed the first bad shot he made, but he is still on the black.

APPLAUSE That certainly doesn't look like a

bad shot now, Ted. He is playing with such confidence here. And

absolutely everything is falling into place.

If Jimmy White continues like this, they will need that builders in the

Crucible tomorrow. He might take the roof off.

53. I wonder what is going through young Stephen's mind.

56. 57. Getting dangerously near the point of the frame where there is no

return for the world number one star, Stephen Hendry. If it could

round of this round, of course that would be sufficient...

Yes, that is the one. 68 points ahead now. I do not think Jimmy is

finished. APPLAUSE. Now that is extraordinary

that read is on. It is. APPLAUSE. It was not straight on,

obviously, Jimmy had to put it on the left-hand side of the white. The

break goes to 84 and there are still over 50 points. It did not look as

though either of these rates would pop Sir Jimmy may have to disturb

them. -- these reds. But what a tremendous performance here. All

Stephen Hendry has done wrong in two frames is miss one red. 92. 93. Can

hit pop the red with the left hand side. This one for the century.

(CHEERING) 101. He takes the pink instead of the go,

six colours to go for a break of 134. 109.

APPLAUSE. The lad from south London. He played truant from school

to go to the local billiard hall, purely to play the game he loves and

here he is, on his way to the Embassy world title.

APPLAUSE. This is the best start I have ever seen anyone make and the

Crucible on the final day. Fantastic performance. (CHEERING). So Jimmy

White takes the first two frames in these final day and now leads by six

frames at 12-6. 24. He seemed to catch the black

little in. It still went in. And he is still on that Brad but he was

floating with danger a little bit there. -- that red. Now looks to

have just about the right angle on the black to drop and the next red.

He took the cue ball much too close to the cluster so end of break.

32, Stephen Hendry. APPLAUSE. Stephen finishing off with

what the most important thing one must do is collect your thought and

put your concentration in your safety shot and he has put it pretty

awkward for Jimmy. He forces a mistake but not an easy

opportunity. Four. Not a bad positional shot,

though. He was playing for the red between the pink and the side

cushion. Yes, he can still cut the red to the

left corner. He is staking the one which is a fine of the cart knowing

that he would be away to safety if he misses but they are two good

chances that Stephen has had this frame and we think, probably the

first time that we have seen either player not exacting maximum penalty

when he's hitting the ball is. -- balls.

APPLAUSE. CROWD GROANS. One. An inch the other way and it was end of

break, as it is, a chance to get right back into this frame. Seven.

Eight. Sending the red to a safe -ish position.

14. APPLAUSE. 22. Looks to be about

right to end behind the other red and with the one gone to the

left-hand cushion being right side of the table for Jimmy, being a

left-handed player, he has got every chance here.

APPLAUSE. 29. Choice of shot, can drop in behind the red or tried to

develop it. APPLAUSE. 35. He wanted to catch the

red around half will not caught it almost. -- half ball.

What a fabulous red. APPLAUSE. 43.

48. So Hendry needs sneakers, not that he's going to get the chance to

for them. -- snookers. And this has been a fabulous clearance. All the

more so considering the juncture at which it was made. (CHEERING). The

last three reds were safe but Jimmy White cleared that brilliantly with

63 and now leads by 14 -8. STUDIO: Full of confidence, white opened up

a 14 frame lead and he looked a strong contender to win. I got a bit

impatient, I had an easy snooker and Mr red and Hendry cleaned up. I was

still not really bothered. I was sitting in my chair, should they

thank the guy who helped me in the club, I was sitting there sort of

giving my victory speech... It was 10-14 in the final session as we

join the action Hendry is on the table seven points adrift.

Both players are playing some very good safety, indeed. These

longshots, of this nature, are so demanding, even so under the

circumstances. Stephen plays to the right-hand side to the red between

the black and yellow, he will have to be careful that the cue ball does

not catch the black. Very good. Extremely difficult.

Not 100% but quite satisfactory. At least all these safety play is

perhaps helping them to get rid some of the early butterflies.

The danger is, the shots that they are playing, if they catch the red

to the car, they could leave it across the corner pocket. It might

be on for even to have a try at it will stop did not catch it quite

right that cueball gets in behind the green.

Single ball in front of the yellow is the only ball and at Jimmy Smith

had died the blue and a good safety shot called for.

A chance for Stephen and he will take one of the two reds and to the

left corner. -- reds on. So the first mistake after quite a long

safety spell. Colours, every colour pottable. A chance for Jimmy White

to take this frame. It drops nicely. And it would be difficult to put the

bee mac in a more awkward position. -- cueball. Whether he can see the

Blackwell, it is obviously tight, it is taking a little bit of side. Well

played. APPLAUSE.

He has an angle on the red to move the cueball backout for the lack, to

position and to the last red, he may well take yellow ball. 17.

31 points ahead now and these red will make the frame safe.

Are, and he has missed it! Well, he played the positional value of the

shot. Are thought he might have just popped that one in. Maybe a trifle

fortunate but he did not leave it on.

John Street looking to see if that was a touching ball. He has not

commented so obviously it is not. Well, LAUGHTER, shall I four shunt

I? In full flight, I do not think he would miss this. Very important ball

for Stephen. It is a very important frame this opening frame.

APPLAUSE. And a perfect angle on the blew all the pink.

Just scraped by the lack all. Get position on the Greene here. He is

in a stronger position. 11. So Stephen requiring all the

balls. APPLAUSE. This angle to come off the

side cushion for the black. Well, surely Stephen cannot miss

this so the opening frame of this session has taken just on

half-an-hour and a very, very tough frame indeed and it is taken by

Stephen Hendry. He pulls one back. STUDIO: To more half centuries for

the Scot as Jimmy's title challenge began to unravel. He had a four

frame advantage and out it was down to just one as we headed into frame

28. COMMENTATOR: Jimmy will be trying his heart out to win this.

He has a red, a difficult one, into a blind centre pocket or whatever he

fancies. There we are. APPLAUSE. This young man is

beginning to flow. He does not have to worry just yet.

There are still reds to unfold here.

Let's see Stephen positions at to the red closest to the cushion. It

is a good angle on the black to do it that it is the type of red that

is fixable. -- visible. He is giving it a miss going for the one left

middle. Pink to the right middle. I do not

see him gaining position and another red. It could be the end of break.

Black is on to the corner as well but he is settling for the pink. Is

he going to try this plank to the left corner? Well, it looks pretty

good. The two reds are nicely apart,

Jack. 37. Back all the blue. -- for the

blue. The centre cushion helped there. If Stephen can get back

amongst the red, he has opened three more.

And he is there and, already, five frames in a row he has fought back.

Is this going to be the six. 41. And these must be almost terrifying

moments for Jimmy. The hardest part of a professional's career, I would

suggest. So, 56 points ahead and he really

has it between his teeth now. This is a tremendous asset, he has

salvaged his pride and everything that goes with it. Yes, but can he

split this red? It must be a red one. Not another red surely.

Surely, that is going to be a frame winner.

This is the sort of situation, that is important for Stephen Hendry. He

has refused to take that red from him now stop it is a good position

to be in. It is the sort of situation where Stephen Hendry

doesn't want the interval to be coming on. I am sure that Jimmy

White certainly does. If the frame is safe, it belongs to Stephen

Hendry. It is probably one of the biggest frames that he has ever won.

Being totally impartial, at this stage, I would suggest that he has

to be the favourite. Suffering, but it is too later that one. APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE. So, tremendous applause they are. And what a treat this must

be for the audience. It is one of the best finals we have had in terms

of quality of play and marksmanship. 110. So the colours on the spots are

fighting by Stephen Hendry just proving to us that the title of

world number one, is truly justified.

A beautiful clearance and a wonderful finish by Stephen Hendry.

At the interval they are 14 frames of peace. From playing Jimmy White a

lot. I could tell when he was under pressure, he was constantly sweating

he was constantly mopping his brow. I could sense it and it was giving

me encouragement as well. Those things are good to know, but the

most important thing is your own game. I just grew and grew with

confidence with every frame I won. And that is important, your personal

confidence for the skills in your game. Every frame took me further.

That is, was the worst place to leave it will stop the black is

available in the left corner -- the black is available in the left

corner. He keeps the cue ball on the black is available in the left

problem. Not the black and, but he did very well to stay on a red.

APPLAUSE Well, that was a wonderful shot. To

get the red bear. The contact them. -- the contact there. To get the red

where it was. Well, that was just superb.

One just gets the feeling, Ted, that Stephen Hendry is revelling in this

atmosphere. It seems that he is enjoying it more now, then at any

other time within the match. Yes, I would agree with you. And what is

more is that it seems like he has taken command and started dictating

it at the moment. APPLAUSE A lot of applause from our audience

here. In fact, that was just a little fortunate. They all count of

course. APPLAUSE Yes, this is a nasty little shot at

this juncture. He is under severe pressure.

He did that with almost sufficient strength to get the red out from the

pocket. That seemed a cheeky one to men,

are. -- to me. Yes, Stephen Hendry was quite keen

to get the red ball onto the cushion.

Is that red going out from the middle pocket? Are don't think that

it is pottable. Well, I am pretty sure it is Ted. I am sure he will

try and give it a rough cut. Well, you were right. He didn't fancy it

and now he will go to the other one. It will be pottable in a minute when

he gets this colour. It just puts him ten points behind.

As you can see the colour is widely spread. Stephen Hendry is above. Oh

dear! He is struggling for the advantage

of this frame. Well, with the brown, Stephen Hendry

knocks it in and Jimmy White will have to tie. So, as he got the blue

and onto middle pocket. -- so, he has to go for the blue into the

middle pocket. It is a big shot, this one.

Stephen Hendry looks anxiously he knows it is the right part of the

table for his opponent. And they are still on the table, those three

balls. It is decision time. , -- so if he

takes the pot for the black, that could run anywhere.

He moved all three colours there. Well, I don't think that this is

strong enough. But, can Stephen Hendry hit its? -- hit it. This,

could make a big difference. If Stephen Hendry misses it, then Jimmy

White could win. At the very moment he can only tie.

Another amazing performance by the world's number one star Stephen

Hendry. He has won 15 frames to 14 frames.

Scotland's Stephen Hendry breaks off. APPLAUSE

Well, he is looking at the plan. There are two reds. It looks like

that red will slide past the corner pocket. That is if they are lined

up. APPLAUSE Jimmy White having another thrash

there. It is his fourth time in the semi-final. For frames up and one

down. Can you imagine how he feels now? To be fair, I think he needed

to have a go at that, because earlier in the match he was hitting

them in. I think that if he is going to beat Stephen Hendry he cannot

compromise. He needs to go on the same shots he was working on earlier

on. He must hope that he can turn the run of the balls around.

Yes, certainly Jimmy White is getting very near. But yes, he is

not going down. To be fair to Jimmy White. He is not

making any unforced errors. It is a good safety shot by Stephen Hendry.

He just keeps keeping the screw on him. He is going to have to hang on

in there, hoping that things will change. I suppose it is fair to say

that Stephen Hendry waited almost a day and a half for him. Absolutely,

but hasn't he taken advantage of that change? And their eyes are

glued to the table as the crowd watches every move of these young

Howl pink coverings that? -- howl is? -- how is the pink coverings

that? Is that covering the pocket? Yes,

yes it is. Now, can he dislodge any of those

reds from the pink? It looks like he has just enough angle. Taking their

cue from the side cushion. Well, it is just not happening for Jimmy

White at the moment. Although it is difficult, one can

only say he has got to remain patient.

APPLAUSE. Perfect length, of course, but I think Jimmy can get through

this and he does. APPLAUSE

Only three point in it, now. 14. He needs to get the cueball out, well

away from the cushion. Taking on the more difficult read. CROWD GROANS.

That is always the danger. There is no margin of error down the cushions

of these tables. He is trying so very, very hard. Now

fighting the balls as well as an opponent.

Now a tricky one for Stephen. He has not got a choice but to play it dead

weight. Tries to play it with pace, much more difficult. CROWD GROANS.

APPLAUSE Got the just enough strength for it to drop in the

bucket. You know, Ted, that red down on the

side cushion that went in, just the difference compared to Jimmy's shot

one minute before. That might just prove to be the difference at the

end of the day. But this is a magnificent performance by this

young man. Plotting his way now to victory for eight consecutive

frames. Airdrops then and he is a leading by

two frames. 16 -14. The hand of the referees, John

Street, looking to see if those two balls are touching. No, he decides

they are not touching. LAUGHTER. Well, Jimmy knew he had every chance

of taking the cue ball away but... This young man is liable to knock

this one in. APPLAUSE. One. Pink ball.

One just has the feeling that if Jimmy White is going to win tonight,

he is going to have to because Stephen is not going to let him back

in too easily. It must be absolute Tom and for

Jimmy to be sat there in the chair. -- torment. The adrenaline is

throwing through the veins of these 23-year-old Scot.

Every chance this time to get on the black.

52. And all of a sudden, it is just as if Stephen is not playing in a

world final. Like having a game down the pub.

Jimmy looking terribly thoughtful that, almost dejected, I feel,

having lost eight frames on the trot. The break now the five.

-- 65. The next colour, Ted, means already Jimmy is into snooker and,

to be fair, Jimmy has done nothing wrong this round. Just one brilliant

red of Stephen's. He is just an amazing young man.

The break goes to 80 and there are still four reds to go.

81. Started this final session six frames down. Now looking for one

frame only to take the world title. It is all there, in that young

face. 94. 95. Weight for the applause for the

century... Yet another one. APPLAUSE.

and it must be terrible for 30 -year-old Jimmy White, sat there in

a chair while Stephen occupies the table. Whatever is going through

that young man's mind. This has been an immaculate break.

He has never been in trouble for one moment heading towards the

inevitable ending. Just the break for 134 and nine consecutive

frames. The 32nd frame, Stephen Hendry to

break. So is the breaking off for the Embassy world title Jimmy save

the match? The winner to collect ?150,000, the

loser and ?90,000. He caught it on the way back.

APPLAUSE. Yes! And Jimmy immediately

apologises to Stephen for the fluke. He has to take full advantage

of it. Five. He would want to nudge the red

away from the black spot, here. No. One think I would think about is to

miss the black. That is unforgivable, really but he is under

pressure. I sure every nerve in his body is completely knotted at the

moment. APPLAUSE. 16. This one up the side

cushion. The breast are all out in the open. -- the rest.

cushion. The breast are all out in the open.

cushion. The breast are all out in ?150,000. -- goes. 29. His mind must

be on the three previous finals he has been on to.

They called him the wonder man of Scotland. He is certainly proving

that here at the Crucible Theatre this evening.

And once again, he passes the half-century. Always in my mind on

these occasions, it seems a pity, after such a magical snooker, that

someone has to lose and Jimmy, who has been there three times before,

will be the saddest person at in Sheffield if Stephen continues at

the table, as he is doing at the moment.

To really put it beyond doubt, he needs a snooker already. He has had

three over 50, it really is savage scoring by this young man. And

somehow, I feel that Jimmy will come out off his chair, pure and simply,

to shake the hand of his 23 he rolled opponents. What a terrible

shame. Is millions of fans will be so disappointing. This was the year

for Jimmy White at one young man had different ideas, a young man named

Stephen Hendry. He won the world title in 1919 and said he could

regain it. Ten consecutive frames on the final night... It must be a

record. 97. Stephen Hendry, worlds number

one star. Completing ten frames. Capacity crowd here at the Crucible

Theatre in Sheffield for this final. As a Stephen goes out in a blaze of

glory. He becomes the 1992 Embassy world champion for a second time as

a Jimmy steps forward to shake his hand and what a miraculous

performance by a 23-year-old boy from Scotland with a victory at 18

frames to 14 after ten consecutive victory frames. It was a good way to

finish. I just grew in confidence. A little bit disappointment, is an

understatement. But if you do not take chances when you get them, you

get punished. That final will always be remembered for one of the

greatest comebacks. Three centuries in the last five frames. Jimmy

unable to respond to that onslaught. Stephen will go on to inflict even

further psychological pain. Eventually, Stephen would retire in

2012 having claimed seven world titles. Jimmy White is still

waiting.