Peter Ebdon Retires From Professional Snooker

Vegan former world champion Peter Ebdon has retired from professional snooker at the age of 49 because of a chronic neck injury, the WPBSA announced on Thursday, April 30.

Ebdon turned pro in 1991 and spent 29 unbroken years on the circuit. He won the world title in 2002, beating Stephen Hendry 18-17 in one of the great Crucible finals, and appeared at the Crucible 22 years in a row. He won eight other ranking titles, including the 2006 UK Championship and the 2012 China Open, and made 377 century breaks, two of them 147s.

An MRI scan found serious wear in his neck, and doctors said two vertebrae would need replacing. He has decided not to risk it.

The one thing I can't do if I don't have the operation is play snooker again, because of the compression in my neck. So, as sad as it is for me, that's the end. Having weighed everything up that is the decision I have come to.

Ebdon was always famous for his discipline, and around the start of 2012 he went vegan. That April he told BBC Sport: "I've been vegan for almost five months and it's made a huge difference. My concentration and focus is good and the diet is a big part of that." He had just won the 2012 China Open, beating Neil Robertson along the way.

Robertson got something out of their rivalry too. The Australian later switched to a plant-based diet after talking it through with Ebdon, Great Vegan Athletes reports, and he has not stopped winning since: he won the Welsh Open with a 147 last year and then his second Champion of Champions title.

Ebdon plans to keep commentating for the BBC and to work as a healer. Thanks for the memories, Peter. Powered by plants, right to the end.