Ronnie O'Sullivan's explosive interview in 2002 led to a bitter feud with Stephen Hendry before their World Championship semi-final match.
## What happened?
Hendry recalled the incident on his Cue Tips YouTube channel, stating that O'Sullivan's words fired him up to win.
O'Sullivan had said he wanted to send Hendry back to Scotland for a nice summer off, calling his life "sad".
## Why it matters for Ronnie O'Sullivan
The feud erupted despite the two snooker icons now getting on famously, with mutual respect for each other.
Hendry won the semi-final match 17-13, but lost the final to Peter Ebdon.
O'Sullivan had been encouraged by others to make the comments, which Hendry found disappointing.
## What comes next?
The incident occurred in 2002, and Hendry has since spoken about the match, revealing his motivation to win was heightened by O'Sullivan's comments.
And Hendry's determination to win was clear, as he played some of his best snooker at the Crucible during that semi-final.
But Hendry's dominance of the sport had ended by then, and he was looking to prove himself against O'Sullivan.
So the match was a significant one, with both players looking to assert their authority.
Hendry remembered O'Sullivan's antics during the match, including laughing and smirking when Hendry missed easy shots.
This only added to Hendry's frustration and determination to win.
The match was a closely contested one, with Hendry ultimately emerging victorious.
As of the 2002 World Championship, both Hendry and O'Sullivan had won seven world titles each.
And their rivalry continues to be remembered as one of the most intense in snooker history.
But despite the past feud, the two players now have a great deal of respect for each other.
Hendry's comments on the incident have shed new light on the rivalry between the two snooker legends.
The 2002 World Championship semi-final match between Hendry and O'Sullivan will always be remembered as a significant moment in their rivalry.