Latest news with #SamCraigie
Metro
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Sam Craigie feared for career after neck surgery but now feels better than ever
Sam Craigie feared he may never return to snooker after recovery from neck surgery did not go as planned, but now feels his game is better than ever. The 31-year-old was enjoying increasingly encouraging results on the table, with a UK Championship quarter-final in 2022 and a German Masters semi in '24. However, a problem in his neck was getting worse and the issue eventually became so bad Craigie was forced into surgery, but only after some impressive results despite the pain. 'I think I've had it for a long time,' Craigie told Metro of the neck injury. 'For a good few years I had stiffness in exactly the same place. But it was only my last season where I just thought it was unbearable. 'The German Masters run was absolutely bonkers. I told the officials before every match that I might have to withdraw because the pain was so bad, but every match I just flew. It didn't make any sense. 'My last match at the [2024] World Championship was similar, I played really well. I had tonsilitis as well, you couldn't write it. 'I played well considering I woke up and sat in the bath with the hot shower on because I was freezing and sweating. I was just trying to warm up before that match. 'I think I had eight 50-pluses and lost 10-8 to Jiang Jun. He's a good player by the way.' As that season ended Craigie moved to solve the ongoing problem, although he didn't know what the issue was for some time. 'I was seeing GPs to start with and they all were telling us different things,' he said. 'One of them told us I had a tear in my shoulder. One of them thought it was the muscles in my back. 'Finally they said I need to see a specialist and they said there's nothing wrong with my shoulder. I wasted like six months not knowing what was going on.' Anterior cervical disc replacement surgery was the answer, but the hope was that he would be back playing in a matter of weeks, which was not the case. 'The surgery was a no-brainer for me because the pain was unbearable, but he obviously expected the recovery to go a lot smoother than it has been,' Craigie explained. 'The Championship League was a week or two after the surgery and I tried my best to play but I could only get my chin a foot or two off my cue.' Asked if he thought his career could be over at this stage he said: 'Aye, definitely. 'Only in January I could really play again. I tried to play before that, but I couldn't do it. After half an hour I was just in pain. Then in January it got a bit better. I could manage a couple of hours.' The pain has not gone away entirely, but he is in a vastly better situation to a year ago. From January, with the game available to him again, Craigie hit the practice table hard to try and get back to where he was. 'I started doing 8-10 hour days, maybe 12 hours, because obviously I'm playing catch up,' he said. 'Obviously it causes pain, but I had to do it.' The hard work is paying off as, despite feeling like he had hit a peak before the surgery, Craigie is even more confident in his game now. 'I had a few really good results the last year I played,' he said. 'Good performances, where I started to think that I'm actually quite good, you know, because I never always believed that. 'Now, in practise, I've said to my dad and my brother that I actually feel better than I was. In practise I play a frame against myself and just clear up, just keep clearing up. You can't really lose can you? You can't really do much more than that.' The Newcastle cueist reached a career high of number 33 in the world in 2023, but after years of being touted as a player who could go further, he now finally believes in himself that he will do just that. 'A million percent, absolutely a million percent,' he said of his ability to do more than he has done in the game to date. 'A good few years ago I didn't believe what everyone used to see. I've heard it since I was 13 years old, that I'm going to be this and I'm going to be that. 'Then it took us a long time to get up the I did, my neck got cut open. It was unfortunate timing. 'I know one thing for certain, I'm practising more than everyone else. That is a fact. If I heard somebody who was doing more than us then I would have to up it, because they aren't playing catch-up.' Craigie actually lost his place on the professional tour as he could not play for a year, but was granted a new tour card due to it being injury keeping him out of the game. One unexpected bonus of his absence was how much he started watching the sport, which has helped him in his new, extremely long practice schedule. 'The best thing about it actually was that I've started watching snooker,' he said. 'My practise routine is completely different to what it's ever of the routines and shots that I'm doing I've never done before in my life. 'I'm watching some of the best players, watching games between them, picking out shots that most people struggle with and practising them relentlessly. 'I hate it, I absolutely despise it, but I've got it all written down in my phone what I'm doing every single day and there's no ifs, buts or maybes, I just do it until it's done. Sometimes it takes longer than other days, but I still get it finished. 'I'm actually learning, which I haven't really put much thought into in the past.' Craigie has begun his long road to climb back up the world rankings and continues it on Friday in British Open qualifying against Yao Pengcheng. MORE: Chang Bingyu returns from match-fixing ban with back-to-back wins MORE: Snooker chiefs reveal fines for Ding Junhui and Seniors champ for disciplinary issues MORE: Luca Brecel pulls out of British Open in bizarre start to his snooker season
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I wasn't sure I'd play again' – Snooker star Sam Craigie reveals year-long battle with horror neck injury
SNOOKER star Sam Craigie has revealed his year-long battle with a horror neck injury, admitting: 'I wasn't sure I'd play again.' Craigie, 31, is one of snooker's top players after turning professional in 2011. 6 6 6 He boasts 101 century breaks after recording a best ranking finish of third at the 2021 WST Pro Series. But Craigie is currently listed at just 84th in the world after playing his last match in September 2024. The ace vanished from sight following his English Open qualifying defeat to Michael Holt, leading to questions from fans over his future. However, Craigie has now posted a lengthy statement online revealing that he has been dealing with serious health issues. Posting several pictures of himself in hospital with scarring around his neck, the ace revealed that intense shoulder pain and a slipped disc left him unable to play. Craigie admits the setback was so bad that he even considered giving up snooker. However, he is well on the road to recovery and even got his tour card confirmed earlier this month. Craigie is now in line to compete at the Wuhan Open qualifiers on June 23 against Aaron Hill. And he is also scheduled for a British Open qualifier just days later against Yao Pengcheng. Cragie told fans on Instagram: 'Some of you might have been wondering where I have been on the World Snooker Tour. 'Not fit for purpose' - Barry Hearn slams Crucible with World Snooker Championship tipped to 'travel around world' 6 6 6 'Well, it's been a bit of a tough time of late. For around a year, I had been in & out of the GP for shoulder pain. In June 2024, I was sent for an x-ray & MRI where I found I had a tear. 'From around then the pain became almost permanent, I nearly had to withdraw from most tournaments during that time but somehow had my best result in getting to the Semi finals of the German Masters despite the pain I was in. 'Once the season finished, I decided to see a orthopaedic surgeon who informed me the pain in my shoulder was most likely coming from my neck, which was confirmed by an MRI, showing I had a slipped disc. 'I then decided to go forward with the surgery (C5/6 anterior cervical disc replacement) in July as the pain was unbearable. Thankfully, all went well, and I was discharged the following day, thinking I would be back to full health a few weeks after the surgery. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. 'The first few tournaments were only a week or 2 away at the time, but I simply couldn't get down to play a shot when I tried. I informed world snooker about the situation after withdrawing from multiple events. 'The following months, I couldn't do much at all. I wasn't sure if I'd even play snooker again. Around January 2025, I started thinking about snooker seriously again and slowly started having a few hours of practice. 'It was hard to commit to it due to still being in some pain while playing. A couple of months ago I started taking it seriously again. On Friday 6th June 2025 my tour card was confirmed so now I can get my head down and look forward to what the future holds.' Fans were quick to praise Craigie, with one saying: 'It's great you're back in the game.' Another declared: 'Wish you the best.'
The Irish Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I wasn't sure I'd play again' – Snooker star Sam Craigie reveals year-long battle with horror neck injury
SNOOKER star Sam Craigie has revealed his year-long battle with a horror neck injury, admitting: 'I wasn't sure I'd play again.' Craigie, 31, is one of snooker's top players after turning professional in 2011. Advertisement 6 Sam Craigie admits he almost gave up snooker after a major health battle Credit: Getty 6 The ace has spent almost a year recovering from a slipped disc in his neck Credit: Instagram @samcraigie_147 6 He was forced to undergo surgery after suffering serious shoulder pain Credit: Instagram @samcraigie_147 He boasts 101 century breaks after recording a best ranking finish of third at the 2021 WST Pro Series. But Craigie is currently listed at just 84th in the world after playing his last match in September 2024. The ace vanished from sight following his English Open qualifying defeat to Michael Holt, leading to questions from fans over his future. However, Craigie has now posted a lengthy statement online revealing that he has been dealing with serious health issues. Advertisement READ MORE IN SNOOKER Posting several pictures of himself in hospital with scarring around his neck, the ace revealed that intense shoulder pain and a slipped disc left him unable to play. Craigie admits the setback was so bad that he even considered giving up snooker. However, he is well on the road to recovery and even got his tour card confirmed earlier this month. Craigie is now in line to compete at the Wuhan Open qualifiers on June 23 against Aaron Hill. Advertisement Most read in Snooker And he is also scheduled for a British Open qualifier just days later against Yao Pengcheng. Cragie told fans on Instagram: 'Some of you might have been wondering where I have been on the World Snooker Tour. 'Not fit for purpose' - Barry Hearn slams Crucible with World Snooker Championship tipped to 'travel around world' 6 Craigie shared his X-rays on social media Credit: Instagram @samcraigie_147 6 The disc in his neck left the star in agony Credit: Instagram @samcraigie_147 Advertisement 6 He has now got his tour card back and is set to return to snooker later this month Credit: Instagram @samcraigie_147 'Well, it's been a bit of a tough time of late. For around a year, I had been in & out of the GP for shoulder pain. In June 2024, I was sent for an x-ray & MRI where I found I had a tear. 'From around then the pain became almost permanent, I nearly had to withdraw from most tournaments during that time but somehow had my best result in getting to the Semi finals of the German Masters despite the pain I was in. 'Once the season finished, I decided to see a orthopaedic surgeon who informed me the pain in my shoulder was most likely coming from my neck, which was confirmed by an MRI, showing I had a slipped disc. Advertisement 'I then decided to go forward with the surgery (C5/6 anterior cervical disc replacement) in July as the pain was unbearable. Thankfully, all went well, and I was discharged the following day, thinking I would be back to full health a few weeks after the surgery. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. 'The first few tournaments were only a week or 2 away at the time, but I simply couldn't get down to play a shot when I tried. I informed world snooker about the situation after withdrawing from multiple events. 'The following months, I couldn't do much at all. I wasn't sure if I'd even play snooker again. Around January 2025, I started thinking about snooker seriously again and slowly started having a few hours of practice. 'It was hard to commit to it due to still being in some pain while playing. A couple of months ago I started taking it seriously again. On Friday 6th June 2025 my tour card was confirmed so now I can get my head down and look forward to what the future holds.' Advertisement Fans were quick to praise Craigie, with one saying: 'It's great you're back in the game.' Another declared: 'Wish you the best.' One noted: 'Speedy recovery brother.' Another added: 'Glad you're back on your feet.' Advertisement
