O'Sullivan is aiming to break the record he holds with Hendry at the Crucible
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Stephen Hendry has finally been able to pinpoint a player who can challenge Ronnie O'Sullivan at this year's World Snooker Championship.
The Scot was previously at a loss as to who could defeat the Rocket but now believes Mark Williams can cause him big problems.
O'Sullivan has won five tournaments this season, including the first two triple crown events at the UK Championship and the Masters.
He is heading to the Crucible aiming to win a record-breaking eighth World Championship and to win all three snooker majors in one season for the first time.
Stephen Hendry believes Mark Williams can cause Ronnie O'Sullivan trouble at the World Snooker Championship
Getty/ITV
O'Sullivan reached another final at the Tour Championship last weekend and left fellow seven-time world champion Hendry in a quandary.
The pundit was unable to name a player who could challenge the Rocket, saying on ITV: "That's a good question, it's a very good question.
"If I'm honest I'm struggling with an answer because he's brushing aside everyone he's playing really."
But O'Sullivan was beaten 10-5 by Williams in Sunday's final in Manchester, with the Welshman winning the last seven frames.
And Hendry is now convinced that Williams, who has won three World Championships, can triumph again.
He told Sportsboom: "I said a couple of months ago that Mark might be a dark horse.
"Then his form dipped and then you wonder about his age whether he'll be winning again.
"But he's got a chance at the Crucible now. He beat Judd [Trump] 10-4, 9-0 up against Mark Allen, 10-5 against Ronnie. He's destroyed the best three players in the world.
"He broke Ronnie's spirit, in the final frame he just wanted to get out of there in that last frame.
"No one's got a temperament like him. If you could bottle what he has temperament-wise, in any sport, you could sell it for a fortune.
"He's different to anyone I've ever met. You couldn't teach what he has, he’s unique. I just think the way he plays, he's so aggressive. He goes for everything.
"If there’s a pot on, more often than not Mark's going to go for it. It's a risky game, but when he’s that confident and getting them he's hard to beat."
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Mark Williams beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final of the Tour Championship
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Hendry chose against entering the qualifiers for this year's World Championship.
He says his career would have gone on longer if he took a similar approach to the sport as Williams.
Hendry added: "My career maybe could have been extended by another 10 years if I could be like Mark.
"He just goes through life without a care about what happens. It’s absolutely incredible.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is aiming to win a record-breaking eighth World Snooker Championship
Getty
"When he gets on the table he's a fierce competitor, you can see it on his face, believe me.
"I was starting to think 'who's going to beat Ronnie?' Because he was just rolling over people, especially in finals."