2023 Shoot Out Champion
22
£210,000
£67,500
Chris Wakelin captured his first world ranking event title at the 2023 Shoot Out following a stunning 119 century break against Julien Leclercq in the single frame final.
From Rugby, the English player defeated Farakh Ajaib, Alfie Burden, Joe Perry, Jak Jones, Michael White and Daniel Wells to reach the title match, before going on to lift the trophy in Leicester.
Having never previously gone beyond the quarter-finals of a ranking event, the victory helped Wakelin to a career-high ranking of 28 in February 2023.
In 2015 he reached his first ranking event quarter-final at the Indian Open, defeating Rhys Clark, Andrew Pagett and Nigel Bond, before losing out to eventual champion Michael White. A year later he equalled this run at the English Open, notably coming back from 2-0 down to defeat Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 at the last 32 stage.
He qualified for the televised stages of the World Championship for the first time in 2018, narrowly losing 10-9 to Judd Trump. He also reached the quarter-finals of the subsequent Riga Masers to climb into the world’s top 50 for the first time.
Wakelin successfully qualified through Q School to turn professional for the first time in 2013.
Away from the baize, Wakelin worked full-time as a deliver driver for ASDA prior to joining the main tour.