Chalk it up – James aims high for World Snooker Disability Day

James has been invited to take part in the World Disability Snooker Day at the famous Crucible Theatre in Sheffield next Wednesday, 22 April. He plays in the Group 6B classification (Autism with an IQ over 75) and was first diagnosed with epilepsy in 2015. He tours around the globe competing in different snooker competitions, always wearing his Epilepsy Society pin and wristband to raise awareness. James’ ambition is to rise up through the rankings and to win multiple World Disability Billiards and Snooker titles.

We spoke to James about his love of snooker, his aim of becoming a world champion and how he raises awareness of epilepsy through the sport and his own work as a snooker journalist. 

 James said:” I started playing snooker at the age of nine, at a primary school friend's house. I fell in love with snooker from the very first time I played. I remembered we played on his half-sized table. I was so excited and fascinated by the rules and how the game played out. Watching it on tv for over twenty years now, I was very fortunate to watch as a spectator at the Premier League, Champion of Champions, Welsh Open and the World Championships a few years ago too. 

I joined the WDBS (World Disability Billiards and Snooker) tour in 2022 at the UK Championship in Northampton, as I was eligible to play in the intellectual classification in which I fall into. I was delighted I was eligible to take part and since then I have been able to take part in more tournaments. I have reached five quarter finals on tour, with my most recent at the Belgian Open in Bruges last month.

Norwich Woodside and Dereham Woodside Snooker Clubs has supported me on the journey, and people such as the owners Chris Zanone and David Gluckstein, and the staff such as Colin McCarthy, Craig Tuck, Paul Bird and Orin Drake have backed me and their advice and awareness has been invaluable. They pay my entry fee for the events as well as supporting me with accommodation costs for events abroad. As well as playing in Belgium, I have played snooker in Albania, Ireland and Portugal.  It has been amazing to take part in the same events as ex-professionals, budding amateurs and champions from other countries or walks of life.

I feel my game is getting stronger each year, and it gives me the confidence that I could win local, national or even international tournaments! 

My aim is to win the World Disability Snooker Championship (WDBS), it would be the pinnacle for me to win it, and it would mean a lot to me too.

My next WDBS tournament is the Hull Open in May, which is a wonderful venue at the Tradewell Snooker Club, I am so excited to catch up with friends again and win a few matches too.

I practise a couple of times a week, though I practise more before big events to keep myself sharp and focused. The key is not to over practise and that is a big thing to know as you want to be relaxed and loose before coming into an event.”

Epilepsy diagnosis

James was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 18. He was studying at college and he said lack of sleep, stress and anxiety were triggers for seizures. He had several EEG tests, which he describes as not his favourite thing, but he got used to the process and says it helped him understand the importance of medication to prevent his seizures. During this time, James undertook a sleep deprivation test which unfortunately ended up with a hospital stay, as he had a seizure on the car journey there.

James was on a very high dose of sodium valproate, which saw his seizures stop. He was gradually weaned off the medication, eventually coming off it altogether in October 2020. However, he had a seizure the following year ,during the Covid pandemic, and James states that it was triggered by lack of sleep and stress and anxiety about finding a job after he’d completed his master’s degree. He was prescribed Lamotrigine and he has been seizure-free now for nearly five years. 

Combining his passions

In addition to playing snooker, James also writes about it as a journalist for Snooker Scene and he covers all the disability snooker tournaments. He said: I have done this since March 2023, I felt disability snooker needed a bigger voice, and the editor Marcus Stead gave me the opportunity and freedom to write about a sport that I care so much about. I have covered most of the events where I have played and it gives me opportunities to do interviews with individuals who play on tour as well as referees who I am friends with. Most people on tour know I am epileptic and are very understanding about my condition, which makes me feel assured and safe.”

Raising awareness

James is passionate about people knowing more about epilepsy. He said: “The more the condition is raised, the more people will take notice and understand the stereotype is more than jerks, rolling of the eyes and thrashing about. There are injuries: for example, I have a semi-dislocated right shoulder and trauma in my left shoulder due the first seizure I had.

We need to be kind and respectful towards people as well as their friends and family, doctors, nurses, carers and guardians. The more this happens, the more research and investment can be put in to present and future diagnosis and plans.

I am not scared of epilepsy, and I have proven to live the life not in fear of it. My friends and family have been there for me, and I cannot thank them enough, especially my parents and brothers.”