Chris Wakelin will be focussed on his Masters debut on Wednesday but his attention has been elsewhere in the build-up after his first daughter arrived eight weeks early.
The 32-year-old was due to become a father in the second half of February, but his partner gave birth on 20 December, which has clearly led to a difficult and emotional time for the family.
The new arrival is still in hospital but doing well and Wakelin had special thanks for the staff at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire for their efforts and wishes any other parents in the same situation well.
‘Coming eight weeks early, any parents who have been through that in the past will know how stressful that is,’ Wakelin told Metro. ‘She’s still very vulnerable and it will be a good few weeks before she comes home.
‘We’ve struggled, as any parents would in our position, our daughter has been born which is incredible, but being so early there are risks that come with that.
‘But the support we’ve had at the UHCW in Coventry has just been incredible. It’s made things easier, but the reality is she is still in hospital, hopefully she’ll be home in a few weeks time, she is doing remarkably well and we’re very fortunate that she’s here safe and well given how early she came.’
Wakelin has tried to prepare for his Masters debut as best he can, when clearly his priority is elsewhere, but he did play remarkably well at the Championship League last week despite the situation.
‘I really struggled to want to be here on the first day of this Championship League event because it was the first day since she’s been born that I hadn’t been there,’ he said.
‘My partner was in there for 12 hours while I was competing. Mentally that was very distressing because all you want to do is be there. We can’t do a lot, the nurses there are the ones making sure she’s ok, but it’s been a really, really stressful few weeks.
‘Even though it’s going to be nearly a month since she was born I’m still not going to be exactly where I want to be at the Masters. But I accept that’s going to happen because my main priority is making sure my baby daughter and partner are doing well.
‘We’re so lucky and thankful for the support we’ve had from all the staff at the hospital. Physically it’s been tough and mentally it’s been an absolute war.’
Despite the distressing circumstances, the world number 15 will be relishing the chance to perform at the Masters when he walks out at Alexandra Palace to play Luca Brecel on Wednesday night.
Wakelin has had a vastly improved time on tour over the last two years, going from mid-ranked battler to a top 16 player and a regular face at the business end of events.
He is now looking to go one step further and add a more traditional format title to the Shoot Out trophy he won in 2023.
‘The Masters is one of those things that I didn’t necessarily think was going to happen in my career in the early years,’ he said. ’10 years of struggling, every match was about tour survival whereas the last 18 months has felt like I’m going in the right direction finally.
‘Nothing’s guaranteed in snooker and in life but the way things have gone over the last 18 months, I’m still improving and to get into the Masters, as much as it’s a huge achievement it’s not the epitome of my goals for this season.
‘We’ve had really consistent tournaments, final in Nanjing [International Championship], semis in Brentwood [English Open], a catalogue of quarter-finals, it’s the season I’ve been looking for for a long time. But the one thing missing is some silverware. If I consistently put myself in the later stages of tournaments, eventually it will all click.
‘When I qualified for the Crucible for the first time, as much as I relished the opportunity and made a good account of myself, losing 10-9 to Judd, I still didn’t feel as though I belonged there.
‘I should have won, but I never felt ready or prepared for what was coming, but the last couple if years has totally changed me as a person.
‘I can’t necessarily put my finger on it but I’m relishing the fact that I’m very lucky with my life now. I’ve got a family to support and provide for, so opportunities like this I very much look forward to.’
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