Snooker star ‘married his auntie’ and got mocked by his mates | Other | Sport

Snooker star Ryan Day has enjoyed a fine career on the World Snooker Tour having earned over £2million in prize money but a story about his life off the table has turned just as many heads after he ‘married his aunt’.

Day has been competing in professional snooker since the late 1990s and reached his highest world ranking to date in 2010 when he placed sixth in the WST standings.

But it was two years prior in 2008 that Day made headlines for tying the knot with the younger sister of his dad’s second wife.

Ryan’s wife, Lynsey, even revealed the snooker ace had been teased by his friends about the unusual marital arrangement in the build-up to their wedding.

Speaking in 2008, the then-newlywed Lynsey said: “Some people like to keep family at arm’s length, but we’re all very close – obviously.

“Poor Ryan got a bit of stick from the lads at first, but he can cope with it.

“I know some will see it as a source of amusement that he’s married his auntie, as it were. But I can see the funny side.

“When he went on his stag weekend to Malaga the guys all wore T-shirts printed with a saucy slogan about us.

“What can you do but laugh? We’re all used to it now and we have a fantastic family life together.”

Back on the table, Day has established himself among the top snooker players across the last two decades and currently sits 29th in the world rankings.

Day has recorded 147 breaks in three of the last five snooker seasons and across his career as a whole, the Welshman has pocketed a handsome £2.3m in prize money.

The standout moment in Day’s career so far was the 2022 British Open win, which came just months after he’d planned to give up snooker altogether.

Speaking at the British Open in 2022, Day said: “I lost in the UK last November and I just didn’t want to play anymore. Lost first round, played absolutely awful and just couldn’t face travelling…

“Started working with Chris [his coach], but started before I lost in November. That was another really dark moment in my career, but here I am in another big final and it can be a springboard for better things to come in the next few years.”

Since lifting the British Open title two years ago, Day has somewhat struggled for form, reaching the quarter-final of a ranking tournament on just three occasions.