Please read the following table in Markdown format and then answer the question according to the table. Table cells in one row are seperated by '|', and different rows are seperated by '
'.

Table:
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Winner | 1. | 1987 | Grand Prix | Dennis Taylor | 10–7 |
| Winner | 2. | 1988 | British Open | Mike Hallett | 13–2 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1988 | UK Championship | Doug Mountjoy | 12–16 |
| Winner | 3. | 1989 | Asian Open | James Wattana | 9–2 |
| Winner | 4. | 1989 | Dubai Classic | Doug Mountjoy | 9–2 |
| Winner | 5. | 1989 | UK Championship | Steve Davis | 16–12 |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1989 | International Open | Steve Davis | 4–9 |
| Runner-up | 3. | 1990 | European Open | John Parrott | 6–10 |
| Winner | 6. | 1990 | World Snooker Championship | Jimmy White | 18–12 |
| Winner | 7. | 1990 | Grand Prix (2) | Nigel Bond | 10–5 |
| Winner | 8. | 1990 | Asian Open (2) | Dennis Taylor | 9–3 |
| Winner | 9. | 1990 | Dubai Classic (2) | Steve Davis | 9–1 |
| Winner | 10. | 1990 | UK Championship (2) | Steve Davis | 16–15 |
| Runner-up | 4. | 1991 | Classic | Jimmy White | 4–10 |
| Winner | 11. | 1991 | British Open (2) | Gary Wilkinson | 10–9 |
| Winner | 12. | 1991 | Grand Prix (3) | Steve Davis | 10–6 |
| Winner | 13. | 1992 | Welsh Open | Darren Morgan | 9–3 |
| Runner-up | 5. | 1992 | Classic (2) | Steve Davis | 8–9 |
| Winner | 14. | 1992 | World Snooker Championship (2) | Jimmy White | 18–14 |
| Runner-up | 6. | 1992 | Dubai Classic | John Parrott | 8–9 |
| Runner-up | 7. | 1993 | European Open (2) | Steve Davis | 4–10 |
| Winner | 15. | 1993 | International Open | Steve Davis | 10–6 |
| Winner | 16. | 1993 | World Snooker Championship (3) | Jimmy White | 18–5 |
| Winner | 17. | 1993 | Dubai Classic (3) | Steve Davis | 9–3 |
| Runner-up | 8. | 1993 | UK Championship (2) | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6–10 |
| Winner | 18. | 1993 | European Open | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 9–5 |
| Winner | 19. | 1994 | World Snooker Championship (4) | Jimmy White | 18–17 |
| Winner | 20. | 1994 | UK Championship (3) | Ken Doherty | 10–5 |
| Winner | 21. | 1994 | European Open (2) | John Parrott | 9–3 |
| Winner | 22. | 1995 | World Snooker Championship (5) | Nigel Bond | 18–9 |
| Winner | 23. | 1995 | Grand Prix (4) | John Higgins | 9–5 |
| Winner | 24. | 1995 | UK Championship (4) | Peter Ebdon | 10–3 |
| Winner | 25. | 1996 | World Snooker Championship (6) | Peter Ebdon | 18–12 |
| Winner | 26. | 1996 | UK Championship (5) | John Higgins | 10–9 |
| Winner | 27. | 1997 | Welsh Open (2) | Mark King | 9–2 |
| Winner | 28. | 1997 | International Open (2) | Tony Drago | 9–1 |
| Runner-up | 9. | 1997 | British Open | Mark Williams | 2–9 |
| Runner-up | 10. | 1997 | World Snooker Championship | Ken Doherty | 12–18 |
| Runner-up | 11. | 1997 | UK Championship (3) | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6–10 |
| Winner | 29. | 1998 | Thailand Masters (3) | John Parrott | 9–6 |
| Runner-up | 12. | 1998 | British Open (2) | John Higgins | 8–9 |
| Runner-up | 13. | 1999 | Welsh Open | Mark Williams | 8–9 |
| Winner | 30. | 1999 | Scottish Open (3) | Graeme Dott | 9–1 |
| Winner | 31. | 1999 | World Snooker Championship (7) | Mark Williams | 18–11 |
| Winner | 32. | 1999 | British Open (3) | Peter Ebdon | 9–1 |
| Runner-up | 14. | 2000 | Thailand Masters | Mark Williams | 5–9 |
| Runner-up | 15. | 2001 | Thailand Masters (2) | Ken Doherty | 3–9 |
| Winner | 33. | 2001 | European Open (3) | Joe Perry | 9–2 |
| Runner-up | 16. | 2002 | World Snooker Championship (2) | Peter Ebdon | 17–18 |
| Winner | 34. | 2003 | Welsh Open (3) | Mark Williams | 9–5 |
| Runner-up | 17. | 2003 | European Open (3) | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6–9 |
| Winner | 35. | 2003 | British Open (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 9–6 |
| Runner-up | 18. | 2003 | UK Championship (4) | Matthew Stevens | 8–10 |
| Runner-up | 19. | 2005 | Welsh Open (2) | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 8–9 |
| Winner | 36. | 2005 | Malta Cup (4) | Graeme Dott | 9–7 |
| Runner-up | 20. | 2005 | China Open | Ding Junhui | 5–9 |
| Runner-up | 21. | 2006 | UK Championship (5) | Peter Ebdon | 6–10 |
Question:
how long was his professional career?
Answer:
19 years