Stephen Hendry became the youngest World Snooker Champion at age 21.
Hendry won the 1990 World Snooker Championship, defeating Jimmy White 18–12 in the final at the Crucible Theatre. Born in 1969, he was 21 years old when he claimed the title, setting a record that remains one of the best-known age milestones in professional snooker.
His victory began a dominant period. Hendry won seven World Championship titles between 1990 and 1999 and became the sport’s leading player during the 1990s. His powerful break-building style helped shape the modern professional game.
The record concerns the World Championship, not the Masters or another ranking event. Snooker has had other teenage or very young champions in major tournaments, which is why the exact tournament matters when comparing age records.