Could Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry's golden snooker title records be under threat from new kid on block?
Published 11/01/2026 at 09:42 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan has opted to withdraw from the Masters due to medical reasons, but continues to hold the majority of the records in the modern era. The snooker GOAT became the youngest and oldest winner of the Masters with a 10-7 win over Ali Carter in 2024, a record eighth title triumph. But will all his records stand the test of time? The Masters is live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
O'Sullivan reflects on 30 years since first UK Championship title - 'No one knew who I was'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie O'Sullivan holds most of the key records in professional snooker, but one of his greatest achievements in the sport could soon be under threat.
O'Sullivan is the record winner of the Masters and UK Championship, with eight title wins, and shares the modern-day record of World Championship triumphs with Stephen Hendry on seven.
His 10-6 win over Hendry in the final of the 1993 UK Championship in Preston saw him become the youngest ranking event winner of all time at the age of 17 years and 358 days, a record that still stands 33 years later.
Alongside his fastest ever 147 at the Crucible in 1997, produced in five minutes and eight seconds, O'Sullivan's victory over Hendry has stood the test of time, remaining untouched over the past four decades.
Yan Bingtao could have become the youngest winner of a ranking event when he reached the final of the 2017 Northern Ireland Open, aged 17 years and 284 days, but Mark WIlliams won the final two frames to dash his hopes with a 9-8 victory in Belfast.
Hendry remains the youngest winner of a world title with his 18-12 Crucible win over Jimmy White achieved at the age of 21 years and 106 days in 1990.
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'I've never been driven by records' - O'Sullivan on surpassing Hendry's world titles tally
Video credit: TNT Sports
But the 14-year-old Polish prodigy Michal Szubarczyk looks like he could have the chance to rewrite the history books.
Szubarczyk, who turns 15 on Monday, has made a promising start to his life on the professional circuit.
And he illustrated his vast potential by qualifying for the Welsh Open on Saturday with a 4-2 win over former Crucible qualifier Jamie Jones that saw the teenager produce breaks of 74 and 98.
He opened his campaign with a 4-0 whitewash of Hatem Yassen, boosted by runs of 61 and 52, in a rookie season that suggests he could be the sport's next big thing from mainland Europe following Luca Brecel's World Championship triumph in 2023.
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He also has three years to become the youngest winner of a ranking event, a feat that looks within his grasp on his current trajectory that already sees him ranked inside the top 100 as world No. 98.
Szubarczyk defeated Jimmy White and Jordan Brown at the UK Championship - along with a win over Martin O'Donnell at the Xi'an Grand Prix - to dispel claims he might be too young to mix it with the sport's elite.
Meanwhile, world No. 43 Brecel is also through to the last 64 of the Welsh Open after winning the final two frames in a 4-3 win over Farakh Ajaib, but snooker icon White is out after losing 4-1 to fellow former world seniors champion David Lilley.
White produced a 106 break in the third frame, but that only proved to be a consolation.
The Welsh Open will take place at Venue Cymru in Llandudno and is live on ive on TNT Sports and discovery+ between February 23 and March 1.
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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the 52nd Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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