Ken Doherty has named his top five snooker players of all time, expressing surprise that Stephen Hendry has been omitted from recent 'greatest of all time' lists. The 1997 world champion believes that the dominant players of the past should not be overlooked simply because performance levels in the sport naturally improve over time.
Doherty's Top Five
Speaking to Metro, Doherty listed his five greatest snooker players: Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, John Higgins, and Mark Selby. This selection challenges recent comments from Steve Davis and Neil Robertson, who placed Mark Selby in the top three alongside O'Sullivan and Higgins.
Defending Hendry's Legacy
Doherty was particularly baffled by the omission of Hendry from the top three. He pointed out that Hendry almost won six consecutive World Championships at the Crucible, a feat he believes will never be repeated. 'Stephen Hendry almost won six in a row here! No one will ever, ever do that again. And as great as the other players are, even Ronnie, Ronnie won seven in 30 years. Stephen won seven in 10,' Doherty said.
He added that Hendry's dominance in the 1990s should not be undervalued, despite his career ending at age 35 due to the yips. 'When he was in the game, he was winning six tournaments a year, when there were only 12. It's not like it is today,' Doherty explained.
Comparing Eras
Doherty also praised Steve Davis, whom he played against in the 1990s, calling him 'unbelievable' and 'so clever.' He argued that both Hendry and Davis would have competed effectively in the modern era, adapting to higher standards.
Mutual Respect Between O'Sullivan and Hendry
Notably, O'Sullivan and Hendry have each declared the other the greatest of all time. O'Sullivan called Hendry 'the greatest player I've ever seen, ever played,' while Hendry acknowledged O'Sullivan as the GOAT, praising his break-building and cue ball control.
Doherty's list reignites the debate over snooker's all-time greats, emphasizing that longevity and peak dominance must both be considered when ranking players from different eras.
