Former snooker world champion Graeme Dott has revealed how superstar Ronnie O'Sullivan reached out to him in the depths of his depression.
Dott, 43, from Larkhall, has battled with depression since winning the coveted title in 2006, which was the last event his then-manager and father-in-law Alex Lambie saw before succumbing to cancer.
The 'Pocket Dynamo' believes not properly grieving that loss led to a spiral that he's not fully out of even now.
But he says a phone-call from the six-time world champion took him by surprise.
Speaking on BBC Scotland's This Sporting Life podcast, Dott, who beat Peter Ebdon 18-14 in the 2006 final, said: ""My wife Elaine made me go to the doctors and he said he thought I had chronic depression.
"I was on medication for a while and I went through a spell when I didn't win a match.
"I lost something like 17 matches in a row, it was a lot, it might even have been a full season when I didn't win a match.
"I can't even remember being at the tournaments. I would go, take one shirt, because I knew I was going to get beat, because I hadn't really practiced.
"Funnily enough I actually got a phone call. Now I don't really speak to him at all - even now I don't really speak to him - but Ronnie phone me and was asking, because Ronnie has been through it as well.
"He was asking how I was feeling and what I was doing, and was saying it was the same as what he was doing.
"I thought it was really nice of him to phone, because he doesn't really speak to me, it's not as if we're mates.
"I thought it was nice of him to do that, and I looked at him a different way after that."
Dott added: "I can actually remember crying at the doctors, which I hadn't really done that much of either, and I even saw a therapist for a while as well.
"It was partly to do with not grieving properly when Alex died. Alex died and I was still playing snooker, and hadn't really grieved properly."
Dott says he has improved with medication, but depression still strikes.
He said: "I was doing really well until probably this year, it kind of raised its head again this year and I've struggled a little bit throughout the season, but I feel as if I've got it back under control just now.
"I think people who have got depression would understand, you don't really want to do anything, the things you normally enjoy in life you don't really like any more, you just want to sleep basically all the time.
"I was finding it quite tough, going to tournaments, playing, and just hating it, so it really is tough.
"It's a horrible illness, you wouldn't wish it on anyone."
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