Kyren Wilson has opened up about the frightening health issues for his youngest son in the build-up to next month’s World Championship.
The former Crucible finalist and his family have been racked with concern over five-year-old Bailey who has been having tests since January and spent five days in hospital last month.
There was even a cancer scare, and though his son has still not been formally diagnosed the doctors are now considering the possibility of Crohn’s disease in his stomach.
World No7 Wilson, 31, who takes on Ding Junhui in tomorrow’s Tour Championship semi-finals, said: “He was rushed into hospital, they were checking all sorts.
“But it’s looking like potentially they may treat him for Crohn’s Disease. To put it into context I think he has lost 11 pounds in a month - an awful lot of weight.
Jimmy White picks out what Ronnie O’Sullivan needs to do ahead of World Champs“They took him down at one point for a potential brain or back tumour. It took two days for the MRI scan as well, so you have two days to dwell on that but it came back clear
“My wife Sophie has been a bit of a superhero dealing, even giving me certain times to say, alright, go and get the practice in, prepare yourself for the upcoming events.
“It has been all going on since early January, then it has kind of become more serious the last four weeks. It was during the Player Championship that he was taken in for five days with some sort of serious concerns which could have been very sinister.
“But it has taken its toll on the family. Hopefully if I can get to the final they can get up here for the weekend, and he can show his little happy face.”
Ding is looking to raise Chinese morale with a trophy – with 10 players from the country facing a hearing over match-fixing related charges next month.
Ding, 35, said: “Winning a tournament, not even just the world championship, any tournament, it would be good for Chinese players and Chinese fans.”