The Crucible produced another extraordinary story on Thursday night as Ben Woollaston, a journeyman player who claims to have suffered long-term health issues following a Covid vaccination four years ago, dumped out four-time world champion Mark Selby 10-8 in a late-night thriller.
Woollaston, 37, who was making a first Crucible appearance in 12 years, has faced a lengthy battle to return to snooker’s top tier after what he says was a direct reaction to a Covid jab in May 2021. He said has suffered “blackouts” and being “unable to stand for about six months”.
Although not officially diagnosed, the Leicester-born qualifier says he “passed out” soon after the jab, adding his symptoms continued once he made it home. It eventually led to him “sleeping 18-20 hours a day”. Even today, he says he cannot bowl more than a few balls at his son in the garden before he needs to lie down.
“It’s from the vaccine, it happened from that day, May 2021,” Woollaston claimed in an interview earlier this season. “I passed out after having it. I couldn’t stand for about six months. I’d never passed out in my life but I had that same feeling for about six months. Standing in the garden, standing in the shower, I felt like I was going to pass out.
“I couldn’t sleep enough. I literally woke up to eat because I was sleeping 18-20 hours a day. I put loads of weight on because I was just eating and sleeping. It was awful. I’d hit the ball and forget, just for a split second.
“I could miss absolutely anything, it was a bit of a lottery. I was playing with closed eyes on a few shots. I have it less frequently now but it’s frustrating because it’s unpredictable. I was in the top 32 for about six years in a row. I’d never thought about dropping off the tour but, at one time, I couldn’t see how I could stay on.”
Despite undergoing an array of scans and tests, doctors have yet to pinpoint Wollaston’s precise condition.
Woollaston, who is married to referee Tatiana Woollaston, added: “To be honest, they don’t really have a clue. It’s been hard on my wife. To be sincere, only my wife and my mum genuinely grasp what it’s like.
“I probably wouldn’t believe it if it was someone else [because], it’s weird, isn’t it? It’s hard to understand because the specialists don’t even understand it. They don’t know what to do.
“I don’t know if it’s chronic fatigue syndrome. That’s only what one doctor has told me but that was on video call, so how would he know? Something’s made me poorly from the vaccine but I don’t know what.”
Woollaston’s victory was well received by the crowds at the Crucible who were all well-aware of his health issues. He was introduced at the start by presenter Rob Walker, who referred to him as “the flame-haired assassin of Leicester”. “How fantastic to see this player healthy again following long-term issues following his Covid jab,” Walker added.
“𝗪𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲!”
Ben Woollaston defeated four-time world champion Mark Selby 10-8 in a late-night Crucible thriller 🔥#WorldChampionshippic.twitter.com/jcMl3aGgcg
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) April 25, 2025
Six-time world champion Steve Davis also picked up on Woollaston’s story in commentary, referring to an interview Woollaston had given when he recalled his hand “shaking a lot” and said there was “no sign of that now, which is good”. He also told the story of Wollaston collapsing immediately following his Covid jab, and then again after getting home.
Woollaston, whose only ranking event final came at the 2015 Welsh Open, in which he lost to John Higgins, was trailing 5-4 in his first-round match against his friend and fellow Leicester native Selby following Wednesday’s opening session.
But he started his fightback by taking the first two frames on Thursday evening’s resumption. And he then emerged victorious from a topsy turvy session in which both men had their chances. Selby eventually offered his friend a handshake in a tense 18th frame in which he was left needing two snookers.
Woollaston was understandably emotional after the biggest win of his career.
“I’m in shock really,” Woollaston said to BBC Four. “I never thought this day would come, winning a match at the Crucible, and against Mark, who except for Ronnie O’Sullivan is probably the king of the Crucible in recent times. It’s an amazing win for me.”
Woollaston goes on to face Si Jiahui in the last 16.
The Crucible produced another extraordinary story on Thursday night as Ben Woollaston, a journeyman player who claims to have suffered long-term health issues following a Covid vaccination four years ago, dumped out four-time world champion Mark Selby 10-8 in a late-night thriller.
Woollaston, 37, who was making a first Crucible appearance in 12 years, has faced a lengthy battle to return to snooker’s top tier after what he says was a direct reaction to a Covid jab in May 2021. He said has suffered “blackouts” and being “unable to stand for about six months”.
Although not officially diagnosed, the Leicester-born qualifier says he “passed out” soon after the jab, adding his symptoms continued once he made it home. It eventually led to him “sleeping 18-20 hours a day”. Even today, he says he cannot bowl more than a few balls at his son in the garden before he needs to lie down.
“It’s from the vaccine, it happened from that day, May 2021,” Woollaston claimed in an interview earlier this season. “I passed out after having it. I couldn’t stand for about six months. I’d never passed out in my life but I had that same feeling for about six months. Standing in the garden, standing in the shower, I felt like I was going to pass out.
“I couldn’t sleep enough. I literally woke up to eat because I was sleeping 18-20 hours a day. I put loads of weight on because I was just eating and sleeping. It was awful. I’d hit the ball and forget, just for a split second.
“I could miss absolutely anything, it was a bit of a lottery. I was playing with closed eyes on a few shots. I have it less frequently now but it’s frustrating because it’s unpredictable. I was in the top 32 for about six years in a row. I’d never thought about dropping off the tour but, at one time, I couldn’t see how I could stay on.”
Despite undergoing an array of scans and tests, doctors have yet to pinpoint Wollaston’s precise condition.
Woollaston, who is married to referee Tatiana Woollaston, added: “To be honest, they don’t really have a clue. It’s been hard on my wife. To be sincere, only my wife and my mum genuinely grasp what it’s like.
“I probably wouldn’t believe it if it was someone else [because], it’s weird, isn’t it? It’s hard to understand because the specialists don’t even understand it. They don’t know what to do.
“I don’t know if it’s chronic fatigue syndrome. That’s only what one doctor has told me but that was on video call, so how would he know? Something’s made me poorly from the vaccine but I don’t know what.”
Woollaston’s victory was well received by the crowds at the Crucible who were all well-aware of his health issues. He was introduced at the start by presenter Rob Walker, who referred to him as “the flame-haired assassin of Leicester”. “How fantastic to see this player healthy again following long-term issues following his Covid jab,” Walker added.
“𝗪𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲!”
Ben Woollaston defeated four-time world champion Mark Selby 10-8 in a late-night Crucible thriller 🔥#WorldChampionshippic.twitter.com/jcMl3aGgcg
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) April 25, 2025
Six-time world champion Steve Davis also picked up on Woollaston’s story in commentary, referring to an interview Woollaston had given when he recalled his hand “shaking a lot” and said there was “no sign of that now, which is good”. He also told the story of Wollaston collapsing immediately following his Covid jab, and then again after getting home.
Woollaston, whose only ranking event final came at the 2015 Welsh Open, in which he lost to John Higgins, was trailing 5-4 in his first-round match against his friend and fellow Leicester native Selby following Wednesday’s opening session.
But he started his fightback by taking the first two frames on Thursday evening’s resumption. And he then emerged victorious from a topsy turvy session in which both men had their chances. Selby eventually offered his friend a handshake in a tense 18th frame in which he was left needing two snookers.
Woollaston was understandably emotional after the biggest win of his career.
“I’m in shock really,” Woollaston said to BBC Four. “I never thought this day would come, winning a match at the Crucible, and against Mark, who except for Ronnie O’Sullivan is probably the king of the Crucible in recent times. It’s an amazing win for me.”
Woollaston goes on to face Si Jiahui in the last 16.
