AN eerie silence fell on the Crucible in Sheffield as snooker fans sensed something special was about to unfold.
It wasn't the usual respectful silence that falls on the Crucible every April during World Championship fortnight, but the kind of hush that acknowledged and respected the greatness of the man some people have referred to as 'Golden Boy'.
Stephen Hendry was moving in for the kill against Mark Williams in the 29th frame in the last session of the final and he was in simply irresistible form.
Playing the kind of snooker most people could only dream of, Hendry mesmerised the crowd as he set himself up for a record seventh win that would put him one title ahead of two of the legends of the sport, Steve Davis and Ray Reardon.
After compiling a break of 88 to complete an 18-11 triumph, the silence that had fallen over the cavernous theatre broke into deafening cheers. Seven titles secured and another GBP230,000 in the bank.
Hendry had been written off by cynics who thought he would never lift another world title.