Ben Woollaston says he’s beginning to imagine he’s able to breaking again into world snooker’s high 30 after years of battling persistent fatigue.
The 36-year-old, who has beforehand reached a world rating of 27, has had his profession stalled in recent times by sickness.
He says he feared for his future at occasions, however an upturn in outcomes up to now 12 months and improved well being in current months has him optimistic as soon as extra.
“I do know what I am able to,” he stated.
“And I believe fairly a number of of the opposite gamers know that I am a greater participant than what my outcomes have prompt up to now couple of years.
“So yeah, I am nonetheless hopeful to get again contending or successful a event.
“I do really feel like if I get totally higher, even by way of this, I actually suppose I’ll get again to the place I used to be and even additional.”
Woollaston, now ranked 57 on this planet, has competed on snooker’s world tour since 2009.
It was earlier than his sickness in 2021 that he produced considered one of his best showings, coming inside a body of successful the 2020 Championship League title earlier than being edged out by Belgium’s Luca Brecel.
Continual fatigue, which has left the Leicestershire father of two sapped of vitality and coping with dizziness, left him barely capable of choose up the cue.
“I believe I’ve executed nicely to to even preserve skilled with the quantity of apply and the best way I’ve been feeling,” he informed BBC Radio Leicester.
“For six months I used to be mattress ridden, sleeping 18 or 20 hours a day and I could not actually arise with out feeling like I used to be going to go out once more.
“I am nonetheless not excellent now, however there has undoubtedly been an enchancment within the final three or 4 months.
“Earlier than, on day I would attempt to apply for an hour then I would be drained. I would battle to face up for that lengthy so, it has been actually onerous, and onerous on my household as a result of I’ve two boys and I can not even kick a soccer round with them.”
Woollaston stated a run of victories on the UK Championship in late 2021, which noticed him attain the final 16 at York’s Barbican Centre, was an surprising leap ahead in his restoration on the time.
In current months he has managed to construct his stamina on the desk, working towards for longer and extra typically in opposition to fellow professionals.
“I dropped from 30 on this planet to 63,” he stated of his tumble down the rankings whereas coping with the worst of his well being issues.
“I wasn’t enjoying. I used to be simply turning as much as a tournaments with in all probability an hour’s play over a number of weeks.
“I used to be simply making an attempt to get by way of the match, not having any expectations to win. However then I gained a few matches within the UK Championships, which was an enormous shock.
“I hope within the subsequent 12 months I am going to see one other large enchancment once more as a result of I really feel like I am at 60 or 70% most days. However I am by no means 100%.
“You simply must preserve going and be optimistic that I’ll have my week successful a event.”
