**World Snooker Championship Star in Hot Water at Home After £50,000 Windfall**
Chris Wakelin’s impressive journey to the World Snooker Championship quarter-finals has not only captured the attention of fans at the Crucible, but also sparked an unexpected domestic debate – all thanks to his £50,000 prize haul and the prospect of a luxury hot tub.
The 33-year-old Englishman’s outstanding performance in Sheffield marks the best run of his professional career. Having previously only made three appearances at the tournament – each time bowing out in the first round – Wakelin stunned fans and pundits alike by defeating 2010 world champion Neil Robertson, then dispatching world number eight Mark Allen. This year, he is one of the Championship’s true breakout stories.
With his trophy cabinet swelling and his bank account newly bolstered, Wakelin now faces a different sort of challenge at home: how to spend the cash. His impressive exploits have already caught the eye of sponsors, with Hot Tubs of London promising him an extravagant reward, regardless of his outcome in the quarter-finals.
“I’ve been promised a massive hot tub, no matter what,” Wakelin revealed, brimming with excitement. However, his wife Lucy is not as easily convinced. “Unfortunately, we have a shed in the garden at the minute, which Lucy thinks is more important than a hot tub. But who knows?” Wakelin said, hinting that a compromise may eventuate. “I think we’ll end up getting a hot tub in the garden at some point. We have got a great partnership. We’ll have to make a deal.”
The player’s enthusiasm is tangible, and it’s clear he has taken his research seriously. Wakelin even made the trip down to Essex to survey the showroom. “The ones Jamie sells are a bit different from normal hot tubs. Why are they so different? They are massive. I didn’t know hot tubs could come that big,” he marvelled.
While he muses about luxury relaxation, the prospect of a swimming pool is off the cards. “As much as I’d love to have a swimming pool in my back garden, I can’t swim,” Wakelin admitted, recalling an earlier attempt at broadening his sporting interests. “When I started running a couple of years ago, a friend of mine suggested I should do a triathlon. He even gave me his bike for a few weeks – but I fell off it.”
His lack of swimming skills means he’ll be sticking to the snooker table for the time being, rather than entering any gruelling endurance events. That decision seems prudent, as Wakelin has a mountain to climb in the quarter-finals, trailing Zhao Xintong 12-4 after the second session. Yet, with snooker, as in life, surprises can never be ruled out.
Wakelin’s rise from delivery driver for ASDA to snooker sensation is a testament to his resolve and skill. With his latest victories, he stands to boost his total winnings substantially – an appearance in the semi-final would secure another £100,000, while making the final guarantees £200,000. The tournament’s ultimate winner takes home a staggering £500,000.
As the Crucible action continues, interest in Wakelin’s fortunes stretches beyond his cueing prowess. While all eyes are on his next frame, the question lingers: will the shed make way for a hot tub, or will marital diplomacy prevail? Either way, Wakelin’s windfall has certainly brought more than silverware and headlines into his home life – and the debate is far from over.
In the meantime, snooker fans await the next twist, both on and off the green baize, as the World Snooker Championship serves up drama of a most unexpected kind.