Graeme Dott-coached Carluke snooker ace crowned Champion of Champions

William Thomson was crowned World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) Champion of Champions in June to cap a memorable season.

Thomson, 37, from Carluke is British champion as he prepares to embark on a ninth season in the sport.

But Thomson has some expert help, as his coach is 2006 World champion Graeme Dott.

The Wishaw General porter qualifies due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which is a group of inherited conditions that damage the peripheral nerves that control muscles and relay sensory information.

A progressive condition, MCT can cause weakness in feet, ankles, legs and hands, and affect walking.

For William, it means he has difficulty standing up for any length of time, and he has had to make adjustments to his game just to continue playing.

That makes it all the more remarkable that William won Champion of Champions, beating long-term rival Daniel Blunn 6-1 at Landywood Snooker Club in the West Midlands to win the Nick Oliver Trophy for the first time, having lost to Mickey Chambers in 2019, and Blunn the year before.

He also beat David Church 3-1 to win the British Open in January.

Delighted Thomson said: “I play in the WDBS and also in the Scottish Amateur main tour.

“I won the Champion of Champions in the WDBS and I’m currently British champion and ranked number one, which is amazing.

“I go to Cue School for the able-bodied, if you want to call it that, and because of the ranking in the disability I had to go to every tournament, which included taking a two-day bus journey to Belgium to save money.

“Because I’m not sponsored, everything has to come out of my own pocket, and if I do win any prize money it just goes back out on hotels and travel.

“I try to be dedicated to snooker and I’ve been playing since I was 11.

“I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which means I suffer really badly with fatigue.

“I’ve had to adjust my bridge hand, the condition affects my legs and my hands, so I walk with walking aids. I’ve adjusted my stance through time to help me play as good as I can, and I love it.”

The Champion of Champions win on June 12 ended that season, but it starts off again with the Irish Open from July 28-30 and the German Open is from October 27 to 29.

Thomson said: “I’ve got the Irish Open at the end of July and the Germany Open at the end of October, which are the only two competitions that have been announced so far, because were going into a new season. I can’t wait.

“I get coached by Graeme Dott, who is amazing.

“To get coached by him you can see why he’s professional, because he’s so good.

“He knows snooker inside out.”

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