Snooker legend Willie Thorne's heartache as hospital visit turned into devastating leukaemia diagnosis

Wales Online

30-04-2025

Snooker legend Willie Thorne's heartache as hospital visit turned into devastating leukaemia diagnosis
Willie Thorne was a hugely popular figure in the world of snooker and further afield, but his life was cut short when he was diagnosed with leukaemia after initially thinking he had a kidney infection
Snooker legend Willie Thorne was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2020
(Image: Getty Images )
Late snooker legend Willie Thorne mistook his symptoms for a kidney infection, only to discover that his cancer had resurfaced as leukaemia.
Born in Leicester, the notable potter turned pro in 1975 and quickly became a prominent personality within the sport. His career highlights include winning The Classic in 1985 and reaching the UK Championship final the same year, where he faced defeat by snooker legend Steve Davis. Thorne, who once held the position of world No. 7, also ventured into commentary both during and post his playing days, retiring in 2001, and formed a close bond with football great Gary Lineker.
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It was during a routine blood test in 2015 that Thorne was diagnosed with prostate cancer and subsequently started treatment. Fast forward five years, amid the lockdown period in Spain where Thorne was engaged as an after-dinner speaker, a hospital visit for what seemed like low blood pressure and kidney issues led to the shocking revelation of leukaemia. Devastatingly, just a few months after his diagnosis in March, Thorne succumbed to the illness at the age of 66 that June.
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"It's unbelievable, you couldn't have written my script," admitted the iconic Thorne, speaking to the Mail following his diagnosis. "It's a nightmare."
"I'm not great, I'm in a bit of a state. The chemotherapy has knocked me about a bit. I think I'm a fighter, but I'm just bloody punch-drunk at the moment.
"It all happened in a day. I went into hospital thinking I had a kidney infection, and all of a sudden 'bosh', they told me I had leukaemia. You could have knocked me down with a feather."
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Thorne, who graced the dance floor in series five of Strictly Come Dancing, shared his emotional response to his diagnosis and the added pain of isolation due to not being able to see his loved ones.
"I cried my eyes out for 24 hours," he added. "And to make it even tougher, I'm on my own because we're in lockdown here due to the coronavirus. I'm vulnerable, I'm not allowed visitors.
Thorne sadly died five years ago
(Image: Willie Thorne )
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"I'm just sat in a room on my own. It's absolutely terrible. All I've got is a 24-hour news channel, and that's all about the coronavirus, which is hard to watch.
"The main doctors speak a bit of English, but the nurses over here don't really, so when I was told I had leukaemia, I was just dumbstruck.
"They said you've got to stay and start treatment immediately. My family are in England, that's where my children are, so they can't get out here. I have two boys and a girl, they're ringing me all the time."
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Sadly, after a valiant struggle, Thorne succumbed to cancer on June 17, 2020. He had been put into an induced coma following respiratory failure and, after entering septic shock, his life support was turned off.
Lineker, host of Match of the Day, led the heartfelt tributes to the much-loved snooker star Thorne, posting on social media: "Deeply, deeply saddened to hear that my friend Willie Thorne has passed away.
"One of life's great characters. A marvellous snooker player and a lovely man, who's potted his final black much too soon. Rest in peace, Willie."