Hendry pays tribute to coach Frank Callan, who got the Scot's attitude back on track Davis praises champion and his magnificent seven

Not only has Hendry established a modern-day individual record with his 18-11 triumph over Welshman Mark Williams, but he has brought the sport together - albeit briefly - to hail his historic performance.

The snooker world was re- united last night to pay tribute to Hendry's feat at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.

Steve Davis, whose total of six titles Hendry now surpasses, called it: ''a marvellous achievement. To win the title in a canter form the word go against quality opposition is tremendous.

''Players can play as well as him but not for so many frames on the trot.''

Hendry's coach, 77-year-old Frank Callan, says: ''The record will never be broken, I stake my life on that - unless Stephen breaks it himself.

''Stephen's game and confidence had gone when we got together again earlier this year but now he's back in business.''

Ray Reardon, vice chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, watched the record he originally set in the 1970s vanish and said: ''Stephen is the greatest player of his era.

''I always thought he was capable of winning the tournament eight or nine times, maybe even 10.''

Hendry's manager Ian Doyle admitted: ''I know I've been managing a legend for a long time. Now everyone else knows as well.

''I told him back in the dark days he could still win nine or 10 titles, though I'm not sure he believed me.''

John Higgins, who lost his title in the semi-finals against Williams, said: ''I didn't watch the match but I phoned Stephen to offer my congratulations.''

Hendry is certainly going to give chase to the world No.1 spot he lost to Higgins at the end of last season. Indeed, he once said being No.1 was more important than being world champion.

However, after this seventh success he may be inclined to change his view. Certainly the record-breaking title has finally exorcised all the demons and self-doubt from the past two years when losing his crown to Ken Doherty in 1997.

''Snooker has been my life and I was used to success,'' he said yesterday before heading home to Scotland.

''When you are not having success you don't enjoy practicing, you don't enjoy going to work.

''There were times when I thought I would never get back to the way I was.

''My wife was getting sick of me coming home early from tournaments with a long face and being miserable.

''There were a few days when I didn't want to go into the club. I was even struggling in practice. Normally I make three or four centuries at a time but I wasn't even doing that.

''Since losing to Ken my attitude to the game wasn't right but now I've proved a lot of people wrong who didn't think I had another title in me. It gives me great satisfaction.

''There are definitely more titles in me and I haven't even considered retirement.''

The technical knowledge of Callan, a retired fishmonger, has played a massive part in Hendry rediscovering himself as a champion.

''It was something so simple I was doing wrong - I was putting unwanted side on the cue ball - and Frank helped me cure it.

''Nobody watches more snooker than my manager Ian Doyle but he doesn't understand the technical side like Frank. He knows every glitch.''

Doyle will reap the rewards from the success of his players at the World Championship. However, amid the happiness at seeing Hendry win again, he was forced to keep a tragic secret from runner-up Williams.

Doyle was informed last week that the Welshman's grandfather Ronald Smart had died of a heart attack.

At the request of his mother and father, Sandra and Delwyn, the player was not informed of the death until after the final.

''It would have been too distressing for Mark because the pair were very close,'' explained his mother last night.

''His grandfather was so proud of him.''

The bereavement puts a question mark over this coming weekend's match in the Riley's Premier League when Hendry and Williams are due to meet at Cleethorpes in a re-run of their world final.

Higgins is involved as he tries to qualify for the knock-out stages later in the month.

It could be that Hendry picks up another trophy before he can enjoy his summer break.

''People were saying before Sheffield that it's been a bad season. But I've won five titles now and been in three semi-finals.

''Not bad for a bad season.''

Hendry Factfile

1969 - born January 13, Edinburgh.

1983 - wins British Under-16 title.

1984 - becomes youngest Scottish amateur champion, aged 15.

1985 - retains Scottish amateur title then turns professional.

1986 - wins first Scottish professional title.

1987 - becomes youngest player to win a ranking tournament, beating Dennis Taylor 10-7 in the Rothmans Grand Prix final at Reading.

1989 - wins UK championship for the first time.

1990 - beats Jimmy White 18-12 to become youngest ever world champion at 21 years and 106 days.

1991 - wins five out of the eight ranking tournaments during the 1990-91 season to earn #694,056 - more than any other player in the game's history.

1992 - wins second world title, beating White 18-14 after trailing 14-8.

1993 - claims third world title in four years. His break of 110 in the twenty-second frame of the semi-final against Alan McManus gives him 33 world championship centuries, beating Steve Davis' record of 32 and equalling Davis' career record of 203. Also awarded the MBE.

1995 - beats Nigel Bond 18-9 in the final to win a fifth world title. Ends the season with 53 tournament centuries, another record. Marries Mandy, who he met 11 years earlier at a Pontins holiday camp.

1996 - beats Peter Ebdon 18-12 to win a sixth world title, equalling the modern-day achievements of Ray Reardon and Steve Davis.

1997-98 - loses on final black to Mark Williams in the Benson and Hedges Masters at Wembley. Exits world championship in first round, going down 10-4 to White.

1998-99 - started the season quietly by his standards, the low point coming when beaten 9-0 by Marcus Campbell at the UK championships in November.

In February, Hendry was reunited with former coach Frank Callan, who guided him to his seventh World Championship.