Rugby snooker star Wakelin reflects on a stunning start to the year

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It’s been an outstanding start to the year for Rugby-born snooker professional Chris Wakelin.

The 30-year-old, who was born and bred in the town, won his first ranking title 10 years after turning professional when he won the BetVictor Shoot Out at the end of January.

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Wakelin defeated Julien LeVClercq in the final of the fast-paced, one-frame tournament with the highest break of the event of 119 which meant he picked up an extra £5,000 on top of the £50,000 winner’s prize for his biggest pay day to date.

Wakelin had never previously been beyond the quarter-finals of a ranking event but went all the way and then followed it up by reaching the last eight of the BetVictor German Masters in Berlin where a 16-match winning streak was ended in a 5-2 defeat to Robert Milkins who made a maximum 147 break in the process.

Chris Wakelin celebrated his first-ever ranking title in front of a delighted crowd at the BetVictor Shoot Out in JanuaryChris Wakelin celebrated his first-ever ranking title in front of a delighted crowd at the BetVictor Shoot Out in January
Chris Wakelin celebrated his first-ever ranking title in front of a delighted crowd at the BetVictor Shoot Out in January

He then suffered a second-round exit in a 4-2 defeat at the hands of David Gilbert in the Welsh Open.

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But his fine form catapulted him up to 15th in the one-year ranking list and earned him a spot in this week’s Duelbits Players Championship in which he lost 6-2 to Ryan Day in the first round on Monday night.

And, following his magical moment in the Shoot Out, Wakelin explained exactly what his first-ever ranking title meant for him.

“It’s a very surreal moment, something I have always dreamed of,” Wakelin, who is now up to number 31 in the world rankings, told the World Snooker Tour website.

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“The last trophy I won was the English Under-19s, it has taken me 10 years to win another one! I couldn’t be prouder of what has happened.

“It takes so much to be able to perform out there.

“In the quarter and semi-finals I wasn’t sure I would be able to push the cue through, I was that nervous.

“But the final was the most comfortable I felt all week and that proves the hard work is all worth it.

“Everyone goes through tough times.

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"We are lucky enough to play snooker for a living but that doesn’t mean we haven’t got problems off the table.

“I have had a lot of hardship and some dark times but managed to fight through them and I’m sitting here now with my own silverware. I never thought I would have to buy a trophy cabinet.

“A year or so ago I took up ballroom dancing and that really changed my life.

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“It gave me a new outlook, something else to focus on and a new skill to learn.

"I met a whole host of new people and it gave me a chance to raise money for Zoe’s Place and do my bit for a local charity.

"That made me realise I’m a good person deep down.

“The money is life changing, it’s inconceivable. I am from a humble background.

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“I didn’t realise when I potted the pink in the final I had nicked the high break as well.

“This result will trampoline me up the rankings.

“I have lost a lot of hard matches which just didn’t go my way because the tour is so strong.

“Over the last 18 months my game has come on so much, I feel as if I’m playing the best snooker of my life.”

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