CHRIS WAKELIN has become an unlikely “sex icon” on TikTok when his BUM became famous as he got his leg over a UK Championship table.
And following the online moment that was seen by more than FIVE MILLION PEOPLE, the potter joked he should get a “sponsors’ logo on my a*** for next season!”
Following his first-round win over Matthew Selt last Monday, a video of him stretching over the baize to pot a ball was clipped up by someone on social media.
Images of Wakelin’s ball-striking were accompanied with music from American singer Sabrina Carpenter – she says the line: “Have you ever tried this one?” – and it all relates to a different sexual position she does during her nightly concerts.
It is all a bit of harmless fun and credit to Wakelin for being such a good sport about the bizarre situation.
Laughing, Wakelin, 32, said: “I was sat in the pub with my mate. Having a few beers.
“This video came through on my phone. I’m some sort of sex icon on TikTok – with my a* in the air.
“I thought, err, that wasn’t the plan this week, not how I was expecting to make the headlines. Whoever posted it, thanks. Thanks very much. It was pretty cool.
“Me being in my 30s, I’m not really the right age to understand TikTok. So it took me a good ten minutes to work out actually what was going on.
“I’d never even heard this song before. I’d never heard of Sabrina Carpenter before. I know who she is now!”
Before his 6-2 second-round loss to Kyren Wilson, Wakelin was welcomed to the arena by snooker MC Rob Walker as a “social-media sensation” because his “eye-catching gymnastic stretch across the table had gone viral”.
Wakelin – winner of the 2023 Shoot Out – continued: “I bought this suit because it’s really striking but I didn’t expect it to be seen by that many people in such a short space of time.
“That’s what TikTok is all about. Entertainment. These reels are great fun.
“We all spend far too much time watching them. To be famous for five minutes in something that isn’t snooker, well why not? It’s absolutely class.
“In that fourth-frame clearance which I didn’t make against Kyren, the yellow that I played, I had my leg over the table and my foot in the air.
“I thought: ‘Here we go again!’ More of the same please. It’s good fun.
“We’re out there trying our best to win but if there’s extra entertainment that can come from what we’re doing, in the form of my a, then that’s great.
“It’s about free publicity for me and for snooker.
“I’m thinking about getting a sponsors’ logo on my a*** for next season – that’s the bit that people watch most about me!
“I’ve had an amazing season. The extra perks of playing on TV more often is you get more exposure. It’s a great tool for us to get our names out there.”
Maybe SunSport should stump up the cash and get a patch on Wakelin’s bottom for 2025 – and market it as the one place where The Sun DOES shine!
The world No.15 – who lost in last month’s International Championship final – has banked £165,800 on the one-year list and is in great spirits because his partner Lucy is expecting a child in February.
The rugby-born potter said: “I struggle to look after myself some days. The thought of looking after a precious little baby is pretty terrifying.
“But I’ve got an amazing, loving girlfriend. We’ll do our absolute best to be amazing parents.
“You only have to see how Kyren’s kids are. Absolutely amazing. He and wife Sophie have done an amazing job, bringing them up.
“If Lucy and I can bring up our kids to be close to that, we will be very proud parents.”
