RICKY WALDEN hopes to play a qualifying match in South Yorkshire next Thursday despite his worrying illness scare.
The snooker star, 42, was rushed to hospital in Berlin on Wednesday evening with internal pains, which turned out to be pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas.
The world No.38 stayed overnight under medical supervision and withdrew from a Last-16 clash the next day with Barry Hawkins in the German Masters.
Walden remained in hospital on Thursday and Friday and is aware he needs his gallbladder removed at some point upon his return to the UK.
But his team are hopeful the Chester-born cueist may play a Welsh Open qualifier in Barnsley on February 6 – provided he is fit to do so.
Agent Lee Gorton said: “Ricky had been feeling unwell for a couple of days.
“He played his game on Wednesday against Dylan Emery and was in quite a lot of pain during the game.
“We were hoping it would subside but it didn’t. We went back to the hotel and he started getting progressively worse.
“We took him to the emergency room in Berlin hospital. After about a six-hour wait, we decided to keep him in.
“Give him some fluids. He has pancreatitis. He has got a bit of an issue at the moment.
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List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
- 1969 – John Spencer
- 1970 – Ray Reardon
- 1971 – John Spencer
- 1972 – Alex Higgins
- 1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
- 1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
- 1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
- 1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
- 1977 – John Spencer (2)
- 1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
- 1979 – Terry Griffiths
- 1980 – Cliff Thorburn
- 1981 – Steve Davis
- 1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
- 1983 – Steve Davis (2)
- 1984 – Steve Davis (3)
- 1985 – Dennis Taylor
- 1986 – Joe Johnson
- 1987 – Steve Davis (4)
- 1988 – Steve Davis (5)
- 1989 – Steve Davis (6)
- 1990 – Stephen Hendry
- 1991 – John Parrott
- 1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
- 1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
- 1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
- 1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
- 1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
- 1997 – Ken Doherty
- 1998 – John Higgins
- 1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
- 2000 – Mark Williams
- 2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 2002 – Peter Ebdon
- 2003 – Mark Williams (2)
- 2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
- 2005 – Shaun Murphy
- 2006 – Graeme Dott
- 2007 – John Higgins (2)
- 2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
- 2009 – John Higgins (3)
- 2010 – Neil Robertson
- 2011 – John Higgins (4)
- 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
- 2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
- 2014 – Mark Selby
- 2015 – Stuart Bingham
- 2016 – Mark Selby (2)
- 2017 – Mark Selby (3)
- 2018 – Mark Williams (3)
- 2019 – Judd Trump
- 2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
- 2021 – Mark Selby (4)
- 2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
- 2023 – Luca Brecel
- 2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
- 7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
- 4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
- 3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
- 2 – Alex Higgins
“He needs his gallbladder removed and that is in plan at home. This is a flare-up with the same condition.
“He may have a gallstone in the wrong place or whatever. He is going to be in hospital for a few days.
“We hope we can bring him home and then he will have the surgery.
“Ricky has had a lot of people message him. He’s had a lot of support and is really chuffed by it.
“He’s still hoping to play. If he comes back and is in good shape, then he will go to Welsh Open qualifying.
“Fingers crossed.”
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