Quote:
Originally Posted by Wamy Einehouse
Hendry (and Davis for that matter) were the best because of how close their B game (and C, D and E game for that matter) were to their A game.
Hendry is still World Class when his A game is in shape, but his B game now resembles a medicore tour journeyman, and to a player whose consistency and ability to always bring their best to the table was a true hallmark the level of frustration must be mind boggling.
IMO this is also testimony to the fact that Davis has a surprisingly strong case to be considered the true all time best, as his ability to keep going for so long and not snap like Hendry is perhaps even more astonishing than 7 world titles.
Davis was a great winner but also a great loser. It's rare for a player, in any game or sport, to dominate their era yet be a class act when they lose because a certain kind of arrogance usually comes with the territory. And he really did dominate, as did Hendry. Hendry learned eventually, as we all do, to be a good loser.
For the record, I rate Hendry as the BOAT for his dominance and also the way he changed the way the game is played, but will side with Davis as the GOAT cos you never met a nicer bloke who was the best in his time, competed with the best after his time, beat the best in other cue sports, and would still love the game as much anyway even if his 10,000 hours hadn't paid off. And he still holds the record for tourneys won, whatever that's worth.
Oh and he said "good shot" to me when I was a 17 year old who had played a bit of pool in the pub and was trying my hand at snooker playing on the table next to his. That 17 year old will never forget that.