World Snooker Championship star goes tee-total to boost chances of Crucible glory

debutant Daniel Wells has gone tee-total to get his career on track. The Welsh qualifier, 36, used alcohol as a coping mechanism for the trials and tribulations of being a professional sportsperson.

But he went dry seven months ago and is now ranked a career-high 49th in the world.

Wells now has a therapist to help deal with the pressures of rather than turning to the bottle.

And ahead of making his dream debut against Shaun Murphy on Tuesday, he revealed: "I have quit alcohol. Seven months now without a drink.

"Just my lifestyle, probably drinking too much, dealing with the pressure of snooker. I turned to it - the day-to-day pressures of practice. Like a coping mechanism. But it is not the best way to cope with it.

"I think a lot of snooker players have addictive personalities. You have got to be addictive to keep coming back, to the brain damage that is the game really. Any habit can form and I got myself into a bad habit.

"There were a couple of bad experiences. I was drinking when I shouldn't have been. Turning up to some tournaments, having a few drinks the night before to try and deal with the pressure. Drinking when I didn't want to be drinking really.

"It doesn't start out like that. It's a couple of cans, watching the football. A good day's practice, have a couple of cans. A bad day's practice, have a couple of cans. But you know, you have got a bit of an issue. It's a tough game to deal with mentally.

"My sponsor came on board and put me in touch with a therapist. That has been massive as well, dealing with my own personality and stuff, dealing with the pressures of the game.

"It's day-by-day, but I am proud of myself."