Daniel Wells proud of major lifestyle change ahead of Crucible debut
The 36-year-old first turned professional in 2008 but has been on and off the tour since then as he strives to fulfil the great potential he showed as a junior.
The Welshman has been to three ranking semi-finals, most recently this season at the Xi'an Grand Prix and the steady progress has now brought him to the hallowed ground of the Crucible thanks to a 10-9 win over Gary Wilson in his final qualifier.
Hard work and dedication on the practice table has been behind some good results this season so far, but as has discipline away from the baize, turning away from alcohol.
Wells felt he was relying on drink too much in an attempt to deal with the pressures of the professional tour and decided enough was enough.
'I have quit alcohol. Seven months now without a drink,' Wells said after coming through qualifying. 'Just my lifestyle, probably drinking too much, dealing with the pressure of snooker.
'I turned to it – the day-to-day pressures of practice. Like a coping mechanism. But it is not the best way to cope with it. I am really proud of myself. I feel better.
'There were a couple of bad experiences. I was drinking when I shouldn't have been. Turning up to some tournaments, having a few drinks the night before to try and deal with the pressure. But it got to a bad habit. Drinking when I didn't want to be drinking really.
'My sponsor came on board and put me in touch with a therapist. That has been massive as well, dealing with my own personality and stuff, dealing with the pressures of the game.'
Wells reckons the life of a snooker player can bring with it addictive tendencies, not least because the game is so tough that you have to be addicted to it to keep on playing.
'I think a lot of snooker players have addictive personalities,' he said. 'You have got to be addictive to keep coming back, to the brain damage that is the game really. Any habit can form and I got myself into a bad habit. Luckily I have broken the habit.
'It's a couple of cans, watching the football. A good day's practice, have a couple of cans. A bad day's practice, have a couple of cans. But you know, you have got a bit of an issue.
'It's a tough game to deal with mentally. I know there are a number of players who go through similar things with different addictions and it is a tough gig. We can only try our best.'
Wells has had a long and winding journey back to the Crucible having played an exhibition there when he was 18 thanks to winning the inaugural Paul Hunter Scholarship, which secured him the chance to practice alongside professionals in Sheffield.
'I played an exhibition there and it felt like I was going to be there soon. I lost 10-9 in my first season to try and qualify and the wheels completely fell off,' he said.
'I thought everything was going in the direction but fell off tour during Covid and I was cleaning for my mother. Cleaning toilets for my mother. It has been a bit of a rough ride.'
It is a tough task on debut for Wells as he takes on Masters champion Shaun Murphy in the first round, but he is confident and knows his best can do damage.
'I believe in myself. I believe in my game,' he said. 'I am not going there just to say that I played at the Crucible. I am going there to win.
'There will be nerves but I have to trust my technique. I have a steady all-round game and can be a game for anyone. I will give it 100 per cent. I don't see myself in any match that I can't win.' More Trending
Murphy knows Wells presents a challenge, but is hoping to make the most of the fact that the nerves will be jangling on debut.
'Daniel had a great junior career. I think he's played here before many moons ago, despite now making his debut,' said Murphy.
'A really good player, very strong player. Somebody I know quite well away from snooker, got a lot of respect for him, he's a really nice lad.
'It's 20-odd years since I made my debut, but I can still remember who nervous I was. He'll be uncomfortable and it's my job to make him as uncomfortable as I possibly can.'
MORE: Jak Jones makes huge Zhao Xintong claim after Crucible defeat to returning star
MORE: Ronnie O'Sullivan reacts to Neil Robertson's shock World Snooker Championship exit
MORE: Dave Gilbert 'nearly didn't bother' but now fancies World Championship challenge
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Rugby legend Gareth Thomas says we're still 's***' at tackling homophobia and HIV stigma - revealing some of the hateful comments he still receives
Society is still in a 's*** place' when it comes to tackling homophobia and the stigma around HIV, Gareth Thomas has claimed. Speaking to Daily Mail podcast The Life of Bryony, Thomas, 51, said that despite recent progress, major challenges remain – and revealed some of the hateful comments he still receives. Thomas captained both Wales and the British and Irish Lions during his illustrious playing career, becoming the Welshman to be captained 100 times by his national team. In 2009, Thomas broke ground by becoming rugby union's first openly gay professional player. In 2019, Thomas announced that he was HIV positive with undetectable status, meaning he carries the virus but is not infectious. You can listen to this episode of The Life of Bryony by clicking the player below or here 'We've come a long way', Thomas told Mail columnist Bryony Gordon. 'But the reality is, we were in a really, really s*** place and now we're just in a really s*** place. 'For example, can anyone name five openly gay participants in male sport? I sure as hell can't, and I know my sport as well as anyone. 'Every time I go out on the field, I will be defined by my sexuality. I don't want it to be like that. I've got ability, I've got personality – people want to be defined by that.' Since going public about his diagnosis, Thomas has championed HIV awareness and acceptance. During the interview, Thomas referenced a statistic that an estimated 400,000 people will die over the next 20 years from misinformation and prejudice about the disease, rather than from the illness itself. Society is still in a 's*** place' when it comes to tackling homophobia and the stigma around HIV , Gareth Thomas has claimed Thomas captained both Wales and the British and Irish Lions during his illustrious playing career, becoming the Welshman to be captained 100 times by his national team Speaking to Daily Mail columnist bryony Gordon, Thomas, 51, said that despite recent progress, major challenges remain The former rugby player agreed with podcast host Bryony that much of this stigma stems from the 'terrifying' way HIV was portrayed in the 1980s. Thomas described how ignorance about the disease, infused with homophobia, has impacted his life. 'People can still be discriminatory, without actually making a homophobic or racist slur', he said. 'I've walked out of a bathroom before, when somebody was waiting outside. I've heard them then go over to the waiter and ask whether they can use another toilet, because they think I can transmit the disease like that. 'I have been with a group of friends, and I've picked up somebody's glass by mistake… you can see this uneasiness – they won't drink from that glass again. 'People will say to my partner Steve when I'm with him: 'God you're so brave, you're a star. You deserve a medal for marrying Gareth' – just because of my medical history. 'I have also been spat at in the street… there were two young lads who walked up to me the other day and called me an AIDS spreader.' Medical advancements over the last decade mean that most people who contract HIV will live long and full lives. Since going public about his diagnosis, Thomas has championed HIV awareness and acceptance Thomas described how ignorance about the disease, infused with homophobia, has impacted his life Gareth Thomas: 'Every time I go out on the field, I will be defined by my sexuality. I don't want it to be like that.' Listen here New treatments also mean transmission becomes incredibly unlikely for those on effective medication. The worst outcomes typically affect those diagnosed late, either through lack of knowledge about symptoms or fear of discrimination. The same prejudices that fuel HIV discrimination also drive homophobia in sport, where Thomas says little has changed since his playing days. He said: 'Nothing has changed from when I was a 16-year-old kid, sat in a changing room and being told if you can't run, you're a f*****. 'That's because nobody is being proactive… we have to be better. 'I remember when I was with the union after coming out, they called me and said – we'll make sure you're protected. 'My words to them were, there's nothing more you can do – but there was a load you could have done. 'Being proactive is creating an environment where somebody doesn't have to do something drastic, just to get a reaction.' To listen to Gareth's full interview, where he debates his playing career and tackling discrimination, search for The Life of Bryony now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Conjuror O'Sullivan remains snooker's unmissable showman whether winning or not
When Zhao Xintong beat Ronnie O'Sullivan and went on to win the World Championship earlier this year there was much talk of changing of guards and passing of torches, but just wait one second, ladies and gentlemen. The Rocket was a shadow of his brilliant best at the Crucible in April, but still made the semi-finals quite comfortably before being blown away by the Cyclone in a heavy 17-7 defeat. Even in a bruising, one-sided loss O'Sullivan was a unique spectacle as he changed his ferrule and tip mid-match, seen as a wild risk of a man who felt he had little to lose given how he was playing. The match was lost and maybe some confidence as the Rocket mused on if there was much point on playing on if that was now his level of performance. Zhao became a new superstar with his Sheffield triumph but there is no question who remained the headline act of the game, the only question was whether O'Sullivan's snooker would continue to match his status. A brief cameo at the Shanghai Masters earlier this summer suggested he was getting somewhere, without fully blasting back towards his best. This week the Rocket landed at one of his new favourites places, Saudi Arabia, and he brought his most spectacular stuff with him. Even when O'Sullivan was winning events regularly a couple of seasons ago, performances were often efficient rather than effervescent. It looked like that might be the case again in Jeddah in early wins over Joe O'Connor and Chang Bingyu, but the dramatic 6-5 quarter-final victory over world number two Kyren Wilson gave the Rocket the confidence to unpack his bag of tricks and put on a show. What followed was as good a performance as you will see on a snooker table in his semi-final with Chris Wakelin. A 147 was his very first contribution to the match, followed by a 142. Wakelin, to his immense credit, kept his head from spinning to fight back to 3-3, but then came the second fireworks display. Another 147 was magicked up in the seventh frame, a 67 followed and the final party piece was a 134 to wrap up the match 6-3. It was absurd snooker. It is the likes you hear of in tales from practice rooms but not the kind you see in ranking event semi-finals with £100,000 the difference between winning and losing. In making the first 147, the 16th of his career, O'Sullivan became the oldest player to knock in a maximum at 49 years old. He broke his own record by a couple of hours later in the evening with his 17th. Not even O'Sullivan could replicate that wizardry in the final, but he could again put on a memorable show in a different way. Neil Robertson finished the first session of the showpiece 6-2 ahead and then won the first frame of the evening. This was not in the script for the Rocket's global fan club. But in front or behind, a burst of brilliance is always within reach. Breaks of 139, 97, 89, 57 and 80 in consecutive frames and the score was 7-7 in no time at all, the Aussie barely believing what was happening. 'I've never experienced anything like that before in my life,' Robertson said of Ronnie's rearguard romp. The Thunder from Down Under is not one to wilt either and it was he who eventually got over the line in a deciding frame, a 10-9 winner. Winning or losing at this stage of the Rocket's career, what difference does it make, really? Long cemented as the sport's GOAT and most successful player, would another trinket from Saudi add to his legacy? No. An eighth World Championship title would, such is the cachet of the Crucible crown, but really any other title is just another bauble on the world's best-decorated Christmas tree. One more sausage on the planet's biggest mixed grill. What feels more important now is that O'Sullivan is still absolutely must-see TV, the hottest ticket in town. Certainly of the relatively small town of snooker, but even of the vast metropolis of British sport. Liverpool opened the Premier League season in a thrilling win over Bournemouth at the same time O'Sullivan played Wakelin on Friday night and social media felt as rocked by the Rocket as it was by the Reds. You cannot turn off even during his relatively lean spells because there remains unmatchable magnificence ready to come out at any stage. Others have magic in their cues. Judd Trump and Zhao can conjure up dazzling spells, but no one can bewitch like the Essex Exocet, even as the sorcerer approaches his 50th birthday. More Trending This is not a veteran grimly hanging on, trying to replicate his glory days. We are still lounging in the sunshine of his glory days. 'I've never played that well in a match before,' O'Sullivan said of his semi-final masterclass. If that's what he can do four months shy of 50, after already compiling the greatest CV in snooker, then the Ronnie O'Sullivan show looks set to enchant and delight fans for many years to come. Others will win more tournaments, but snooker's shining light is not ready to pass his torch yet. MORE: Why Neil Robertson conquering Ronnie O'Sullivan in Saudi Arabia is his 'best win' MORE: Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters 2025 results, schedule, TV channel and prize money MORE: Ronnie O'Sullivan heaps praise on rival: 'Like playing Hendry in his prime'
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Neil Robertson reveals £500k Saudi Snooker Masters win almost derailed by taxi taking him to the wrong place
NEIL ROBERTSON has revealed how taxi troubles almost derailed his £500,000 desert title tilt. The Australian claimed his 10-9 victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters was his 'greatest achievement', which surpasses his world title triumph 15 years ago. 1 Money-wise, the win in Jeddah was DOUBLE what he earned for being the King of the Crucible in 2010, representing a jackpot of half a million pounds. Yet clumsy Robbo, 43, has had a habit of woes connected to planes, trains and automobiles and that was the case last week while in the oil-rich nation. This is the same bloke who once drove to the wrong Barnsley (in Gloucestershire) and Sheffield (in Cornwall) instead of events in South Yorkshire. The new world No.3 – who credits coach Joe Perry for transforming his game – said: 'I had a couple of funny stories with the courtesy cars out here. 'One day, we couldn't get one and we got an Uber. I had the pin location for the venue. We're in the Uber, it's the most straightforward drive. 'And he goes to Joe and I: 'Oh, which arena do you want to go to?' 'Both of us didn't have any signal on our phones. I said: 'Just go to the point on the pin.' 'This was like Germany a few years ago where my taxi driver actually drove to the wrong venue. 'I said to Joe: 'This stuff just happens to me. You know these times when I drive to the wrong place – it's not my fault.' 'Ahead of the final, I booked a courtesy car and we're waiting outside the hotel and he's not turned up – because he drove to the venue instead of the hotel. Stuart Bingham hailed by commentator for classy act during Neil Robertson match 'I'm telling you, all these things, they're not all my fault! 'So it was lucky we planned to get to the venue so early, which allowed me to get here an hour before. 'Probably 18 months ago, I'd have planned to get here 45 minutes before and then I'm preparing for the final with five minutes practice.' HELPING HAND Robertson failed to qualify for the 2024 World Snooker Championship – he claims he reached 'right to the bottom' of the sport – and ended up working for the BBC TV commentary team instead. This latest 'good-feel story' signals a huge 'rebound' in his career that he hopes is an inspiration to other pros who have fallen on hard times. He credits Perry – a former top-10 player – and Cambridge-based sports psychologist Helen Davis for rebuilding his confidence. Some of the mammoth winnings will be spent on his new hobby of golf, which takes up most of his free time. The Thunder from Down Under said: 'I'm going to get a new set of golf clubs, mate. I'm due an upgrade. I've outgrown the set I got last year. 'And hopefully membership at another golf course as well. I'm a member at the Cambridge Country Club. 'But I also want to be a member of Gog Magog where they have the Open qualifying. 'Hopefully the guys working there have seen this result and I might get bumped in front of the queue, because it's a three-year waiting list.' RELATIONSHIP WITH ROCKET O'Sullivan, who gets a £147,000 bonus for hitting two 147s in the semi-final, made an error in the final, 19th frame that allowed Robertson to clinch the sport's fourth major. The Rocket, 49, is using a new cue this season but he has already shown he is going to be a significant contender for the top events. Robertson added: 'Ronnie calls me pretty frequently. He wants to see me win more world titles and more tournaments. 'He really wants to see me do well. So to have that kind of relationship with him is incredibly special. 'He's one of the inspirations for me growing up as a kid. There's no way I'd have thought as a 14-year-old I'll be competing against Ronnie in major finals. 'Or I'll be where I am today over nearly 30 years later. 'It's got to go down as one of the greatest finals of all time. I've certainly had my fair share of good results in big finals when they've gone close and you know this is another one.'
