August 17th 2024.
Chris Wakelin is on a roll, feeling like he's really making strides with his game. He's had a great start to the season, and he's giving credit to his coach for helping him improve. Although he's keeping the identity of his coach under wraps, he's feeling confident and excited about the recent changes he's made.
At 32 years old, Chris has topped his first Championship League group and won all three of his recent qualifiers. This has earned him spots in the Xi'an Grand Prix, Wuhan Open, and British Open. As the 24th ranked player in the world, he's feeling good about his game and believes that the work he's doing with his coach is paying off.
"I've made some major changes to my game," Chris shared with Metro. "I started working with a coach, and even though it's only been sporadic, he's given me some valuable insights that I believe will make a big difference. It took me a few months to wrap my head around it, but the changes we've made are all positive. I'm already seeing the difference in areas where I used to struggle, and now they feel like second nature. I truly feel like I'm heading in the right direction."
Despite his excitement, Chris is keeping the identity of his coach a secret. "I'm not going to tell you who it is," he said with a sly smile. "He's a mystery coach, but he's a qualified one. I prefer to keep this nugget of information to myself because it's been a game-changer for me. I don't want others jumping on the bandwagon and getting the same advice. It's an advantage that I've found, and I want to keep it to myself."
In the past year, Chris finished second to Judd Trump at the Northern Ireland Open and won the Shoot Out. He believes that success breeds success, and now he's playing with the freedom of someone who's no longer worried about his world ranking.
"I've become more philosophical about losing," Chris explained. "When you're hovering around the danger zone in the rankings, it can be daunting, and every match becomes more intense. But in the last couple of seasons, I've been able to play with more freedom, which has not only made me a better player but also more entertaining. I'm playing quicker and going for wins instead of playing not to lose, which is necessary when you're fighting for survival. The confidence I've gained is immeasurable, and I can make more decisions based on my instincts rather than just playing the numbers."
Chris has a string of big events coming up, and his wins in qualifying have set him up for success. "Last week's three qualifiers were crucial in setting up my season," he said. "Getting through all three shows that I'm moving forward in my career and giving myself more opportunities to capitalize on the past two years."
One person who has been instrumental in his practice sessions is 17-year-old Stan Moody, who has also had a bright start to the season. "I have a lot of respect for Stan; he's a great guy," Chris said. "We've had some tough battles in practice, and I truly believe he has a bright future ahead of him. Once he gets past the initial period of adjusting to the bigger stages and bringing his practice game to the matches, he'll do great. It takes time, but Stan has what it takes to succeed in this sport."
As for his own goals, Chris is focused on keeping his winning streak going, starting with his second-round match in Xi'an against Elliot Slessor on Monday. He knows that there are a significant number of ranking points up for grabs in the upcoming weeks, including at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, and he has his sights set on a top 16 spot.
"I'm currently ranked 19th in the Race to the Masters rankings," Chris said confidently. "If I can have a good run between now and Christmas, I'm hopeful that I can achieve my dream of playing at Ally Pally. I know it's within my capabilities, and I'm determined to make it happen in the next few months."
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