Emotional Tom Ford reveals he almost missed the Shoot Out after feeling “down in the dumps” following a friend’s funeral last week.

The Leicester player ended a 21-year drought for his first ranking title by winning the trophy in his hometown on Saturday night.

Tom Ford won the Shoot Out title shortly after attending a loved one’s funeral

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Tom Ford won the Shoot Out title shortly after attending a loved one’s funeralCredit: Getty
The 41-year-old has disclosed that he nearly skipped the tournament

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The 41-year-old has disclosed that he nearly skipped the tournamentCredit: PA

Ford, who is 41 years old, successfully overcame seven one-frame matches over three days, finishing with a 31-28 win against rising Scottish talent Liam Graham in the final.

However, he considered withdrawing from this unique event due to the loss of his long-term sponsor and close friend, Brian Todd.

Even before the final, he battled with his emotions and was brought to tears backstage at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena.

Ford, who earned £50,000 in prize money, expressed: “Brian was with me for eight years. He supported me everywhere except in China.

“His funeral was on Wednesday. If I had been scheduled to play that day, I would have withdrawn from the tournament.

“On Thursday, I informed my wife that I didn’t want to participate. I lacked the motivation to compete and was feeling quite low.

“She encouraged me by saying, ‘Listen, it’s only 10 minutes, go and play; you never know what may happen.’

“The trophy and prize money, despite what people might think, weren’t on my mind this week. It has been an incredibly tough time.

Comprehensive List of All-time Snooker World Champions

HERE is a list of snooker World Champions by year.

This record pertains to the modern era, which is widely regarded as starting from the 1968-69 season when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) assumed control of the sport.

The inaugural World Championships took place in 1927, with interruptions from 1941-45 due to World War II and again from 1958-63 due to disputes within the sport.

During those years, Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis, and John Pulman (each with 8 titles) were the standout players.

Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan currently hold the record for the most titles in the modern era, both having won seven.

  • 1969 – John Spencer
  • 1970 – Ray Reardon
  • 1971 – John Spencer
  • 1972 – Alex Higgins
  • 1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
  • 1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
  • 1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
  • 1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
  • 1977 – John Spencer (2)
  • 1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
  • 1979 – Terry Griffiths
  • 1980 – Cliff Thorburn
  • 1981 – Steve Davis
  • 1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
  • 1983 – Steve Davis (2)
  • 1984 – Steve Davis (3)
  • 1985 – Dennis Taylor
  • 1986 – Joe Johnson
  • 1987 – Steve Davis (4)
  • 1988 – Steve Davis (5)
  • 1989 – Steve Davis (6)
  • 1990 – Stephen Hendry
  • 1991 – John Parrott
  • 1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
  • 1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
  • 1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
  • 1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
  • 1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
  • 1997 – Ken Doherty
  • 1998 – John Higgins
  • 1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
  • 2000 – Mark Williams
  • 2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
  • 2002 – Peter Ebdon
  • 2003 – Mark Williams (2)
  • 2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
  • 2005 – Shaun Murphy
  • 2006 – Graeme Dott
  • 2007 – John Higgins (2)
  • 2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
  • 2009 – John Higgins (3)
  • 2010 – Neil Robertson
  • 2011 – John Higgins (4)
  • 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
  • 2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
  • 2014 – Mark Selby
  • 2015 – Stuart Bingham
  • 2016 – Mark Selby (2)
  • 2017 – Mark Selby (3)
  • 2018 – Mark Williams (3)
  • 2019 – Judd Trump
  • 2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
  • 2021 – Mark Selby (4)
  • 2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
  • 2023 – Luca Brecel
  • 2024 – Kyren Wilson

Most World Titles (modern era)

  • 7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
  • 6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
  • 4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
  • 3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
  • 2 – Alex Higgins

“Winning that tournament for Brian carries immense importance for me.”

The seasoned Ford had previously reached the finals of three ranking events, including two in 2023.

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Despite the proximity of the Shoot Out to his home, he remarked that the event felt less like a conventional tournament due to its closeness.

Ford, who is currently ranked world No. 20, commented: “It’s peculiar because I don’t actually enjoy competing in Leicester!

“On qualifier days, I take my young son to school in the morning, play my match, and then go back home and pick him up.

“After that, we have dinner, so it doesn’t really feel like I’ve been part of a match.

“I’m not used to tournament conditions here; I usually feel the need to stay in a hotel the night before.”

Tom Ford confesses he found it incredibly challenging to concentrate on the match

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Tom Ford admits he found it incredibly difficult to concentrate on the matchCredit: GETTY

“I wasn’t really focused on the money during the final.

“Maybe that helped relieve a bit of pressure. Thankfully, Brian didn’t weigh on my mind during the final moments.

“As I entered the arena, while backstage, I felt quite emotional, to be truthful.

“When I first stepped out, I felt somewhat choked up. I understood I had to push those feelings aside and concentrate on the task ahead.”