Sheffield’s own Gary Swift has made history, claiming gold at the first-ever World Disability Snooker Championship in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
The wheelchair snooker star, representing Great Britain, emerged victorious in a nail-biting final against Thailand’s Numpol Thongpusawan, securing a 3-1 win after an intense six-hour battle.
The triumph marks a milestone moment in the sport, as Swift becomes the first-ever world disability snooker champion.
Gary said: “I had to dig deep and fight, but I came back well. It’s every player’s dream to win a world championship, and no one from Sheffield has ever done it before.”
Having faced a 3-1 defeat against Thongpusawan in the group stages, the Sheffield player turned the tables in the grand final.
His coach, Stephen Harrison, hailed the achievement as “very inspiring,” highlighting Swift’s impact on the next generation of disabled players.
Stephen added: “We’ve got around 200 members at our academy, and they look up to him—kids in wheelchairs, aspiring players—seeing they can achieve so much more.”
The duo is now campaigning for the return of disability snooker to the Paralympic Games, a category last included in 1988.