Wilson and wife Sophie setting up family support network

Kyren Wilson and his wife Sophie are working with snooker's world governing body to set up a support network for the families of players on tour.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and the Wilsons, who have two young sons, are hoping to put something in place by the time the World Championship gets under way in April.

Wilson, 34, who won the world title in 2024, has previously spoken about struggling "emotionally and mentally" being away from home as Sophie and other family members had to contend with serious health issues.

In December, the Englishman, said he was close to having a "mental breakdown" during his last-32 defeat by Elliot Slessor at the UK Championship

In an interview with BBC Sport, he expressed hope that snooker could deliver a tailored programme for players' partners and families to help them navigate difficult periods while players are travelling the globe competing.

"I don't think there's anything like that in any other sport," Wilson said.

"If snooker can be the first sort of stepping stone for that to happen I think it would be phenomenal and you know the obviously the main goal is if we can help anybody in need.

"We're literally in a different city, different country every other week. I think where we're going with this is if the families back home are struggling with the sort of ebbs and flows of tour life, there will be a support network and system where they can log in and chat with those going through exactly the same thing and just know that they're not on their own."

Sophie said there is currently no structure in place for the families of snooker players to reach out when they are struggling.

"If someone is a millionaire and they are struggling they should be able to say they are struggling and it shouldn't be pay packet dependent on if you're struggling or happy," she said.

"I can't be the only mum that is struggling with their partner leaving for a tournament, we all must be sat quietly at home having the same thoughts and feelings.

"If the kids can have a WhatsApp group of someone to help them navigate a way through it then hopefully it works out for the best."

Neil Tomkins of the WPBSA Players Association said: "We've had a look online and tried to see whether there's much if anything in across other sports and we can't really find much.

"You've got a military wives kind of organisation which is the best comparison we could draw so we're taking some ideas from that. "