The very important 2026 World Championship qualifiers continued over the week-end, but my attention was partly elsewhere … in Goffs where four greats of the game – Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams, John Higgins and Ronnie – honoured the memory of John Virgo who passed away recently, aged 79. The iconic venue was packed and John Virgo’s children, Brook and Gary were present, watching.

Ronnie won the event, beating Stephen Hendry by 6-1 in the semi-finals on Saturday and John Higgins by 6-0 in the Final yesterday. Brook and Gary presented him the trophy. You will find links to Ronnie’s matches in comments … thanks to Kalacs… as always 👍

Here is Desmond Kane, reporting on Hendry’s reaction after his defeat at Ronnie’s hands:

Stephen Hendry salutes Ronnie O’Sullivan after old rivals meet at World Snooker Championship warm-up event – ‘Ronnie is obviously the GOAT’

By Desmond Kane Published 12/04/2026

Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins will face each other in the final of the John Virgo Trophy on Sunday as the ‘Class of ’92’ rivals warmed up for the 50th World Championship by entertaining a sell-out crowd at Goffs in Ireland. Higgins edged Mark Williams 6-4 in the first semi-final with O’Sullivan easing to a 6-1 win over Stephen Hendry at the exhibition event.

Stephen Hendry paid tribute to Ronnie O’Sullivan after the two seven-time world champions took a trip down memory lane before a sell-out crowd at Goffs in Ireland.

Competing for the John Virgo Trophy in memory of the celebrated former UK champion and commentator, O’Sullivan ran out a 6-1 winner in securing a final meeting with fellow ‘Class of ’92’ icon John Higgins on Sunday evening at the exhibition event.

Higgins had earlier defeated Mark Williams 6-4 in the opening semi-final as snooker returned to a venue made famous by staging the game’s biggest names at the Irish Masters between 1978 and 2000.

Despite producing 61 in the second frame, Hendry looked a bit rusty under the testing shot clock format as his opponent won the final five frames in coasting to victory.

O’Sullivan said it was a “privilege” to share the table with Hendry, who remains the youngest world champion in Crucible history after an 18-12 win over Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White in 1990 when aged 21.

“Stephen for me is the greatest player I’ve ever seen, ever played,” said O’Sullivan on Channel 5.

“He doesn’t play much these days, so for him to get his cue out of his case is a privilege. His middle pocket potting is still unbelievable.

“It took me back years ago. There was no weakness. His middle pocket potting is still unbelievable.

“To be on the same table as him is a privilege.“

O’Sullivan, world champion in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022, needs one more title victory to overtake Hendry as the most prolific world champion of the modern era.

“You can’t get higher praise from a better player. Ronnie is obviously the GOAT,” said Hendry.

“In terms of break-building and cue ball control, he’s taken the game to a level that I thought we might never see.

“He’s an artist with the cue ball. That’s the beauty of snooker in controlling the cue ball and nobody has done it better than Ronnie.

“For me, it is fabulous to be involved in this event with these three great players.“

O’Sullivan’s friendly joust with Higgins could be a dress rehearsal for the Crucible with both men seeded to meet in the second round of the World Championship.

For all four men, boasting 21 world titles between them, it was a welcome return to Goffs in County Kildare.

“I have not been back here since the Irish Masters,” said world No. 6 William.

“It is a fantastic arena and I wish we could get a proper tournament back here.“

Hendry claimed the Irish Masters three times between 1992 and 1999, while two-time winner Higgins made the tournament’s only maximum against Jimmy White in a 6-4 quarter-final win in 2000.

He would defeat Hendry 9-4 in the title match in the last staging of the non-ranking event at Goffs.

O’Sullivan also ran out a 9-3 winner in the 1998 final at Goffs against Ken Doherty, but was stripped of the title after testing positive for cannabis.

The snooker GOAT would lift the title four times, twice as a ranking tournament, when it moved from Goffs to Dublin in 2001, including a 9-8 final win over Hendry 25 years ago.

“I’ve always said this is the greatest country on earth,” said O’Sullivan. “The people are amazing, the best people.

I thought that Stephen Hendry played quite well actually, by far the best I have seen him play in years.