Shaun Murphy wishes he had gastric sleeve surgery earlier in his life after going under the knife to boost his career and lift his deteriorating mental health.
Murphy, the 2005 world snooker champion, had the life-changing surgery this summer with 80 per cent of his stomach removed to limit excessive food consumption. The 40-year-old has always been very open about his weight struggles, and took the decision to undergo stomach surgery for a number of reasons after a poor season without a ranking win.
The 'Magician' wanted to find his spark back on the green baize after his form declined following his 2021 world final defeat to Mark Selby at the Crucible. But he was also sick of the horrific abuse he was subject to both on social media and in real life, that was causing his mental health to spiral.
Murphy's substandard season was also affected by injury problems and marital trouble, but he says he is now reaping the rewards of making what he believes was an overdue decision to have gastric sleeve surgery.
"I just wish I had done it 20 years ago, because it does feel as if it's changed my life for the better," Murphy told BBC Sport's new Framed podcast. "I've struggled with my weight all my life. I was the fat kid in school, I feel like I've been dieting ever since I was 15, probably younger, and I just reached the end of my tether with it.
"I'd reached the bottom of my mental health, I was on the ground. I was very close to going to the doctor about depression, anxiety, not being able to go out, because I was getting shouted at in the street.
"On social media people were sending me horrific messages and comments and direct messages on Instagram and Twitter. And in the end I just thought, I need to do something about this, this is going to be the end of me, mentally and possibly physically."
"It was just always the maintenance of keeping weight off that I struggled with. When you're away on tour you're eating late, you're often eating rubbish, and I've just been unable to discipline myself.
"There are three or four types [of gastric surgery] - I wanted the most extreme one, the one that is irreversible. Because my stomach's now so small, it's highly unlikely I'll ever be able to physically consume enough calories in one go to put the weight back on."
Murphy has said he has shed four stone since the surgery in July and is hoping to follow in the footsteps of John Higgins and Mark Allen by benefitting on the table from a weight loss journey.
"An added bonus to that [the surgery] is that it is going to have a knock-on effect on all aspects of my life, including my career," he said. "From the basic point of being able to bend over the table better, being able to get lower to the shot. If you're carrying any extra weight that becomes quite difficult."
Winner of all three of the prestigious Triple Crown titles - the Masters, UK and World Championship - Murphy is one of the most accomplished players on tour. But he still has one goal to achieve in the sport.
Ronnie O'Sullivan, 46, is current world No.1 and John Higgins and Mark Williams, both 47, hold positions in the top eight in the rankings. The longevity of the three legendary players has made a mockery of suggestions that snooker stars entering their forties are coming to the end of their prime. Rejuvenated No. 13 Murphy is in danger of falling out of the top 16, but has set an ambitious target to climb back towards the ranking summit.
"Really the only target I've yet to achieve is getting to the top of the rankings, I've never been able to say I'm world number one," he added. I've got a pretty clean slate in terms of rankings for the next few seasons and if I can get my act together and start putting some balls in pockets again, I could start climbing the ladder."
