“King of Billiards” Russell to fine tune local cueists
England’s Mike Russell is a synonymous name in the sport of billiards and snooker, especially in billiards where he has etched a name for himself in the record books since he began swinging the cue at the tender age of twelve years way back in 1981.
Russell who first won the world billiards championship title in the very year he turned professional in 1989 and also by clinching the world title became the youngest player to achieve the feat.
Teaching the finer points
From there on he has not looked back and has gone from strength to strength as he went on to clinch the world billiards title for another 16 years, though not on regular basis.
Russell’s expertise with the cue game saw him earn the nickname as the “King of Billiards” to many. In fact the last time that Russell won the world billiards championship was three years ago in 2011.
Russell won the two formats (timed and points) defeating Mathew Bolton of Australia and Pankaj Advani of India but he missed out in retaining the title in 2012 when he lost to Advani in the timed format.
The world billiards champion is at present in the island on a holiday but the officials of the Billiards and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka has taken the opportunity of getting Russell’s services to fine tune the local cueists in the three months that Russell will be in Sri Lanka.
The Sunday Times had an opportunity to speak to the famed cueist Russell who said that he began coaching players in 1998 whilst taking in various championships.
Russell’s first stint as a coach was in Thailand in 1998. Then he coached the New Zealand cueists for eight months.
Russell seriously took to coaching in 2007 working with Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation as Qatar’s national coach for seven years. During the seven year period Qatar he was able to produce a player who reached the IBSF World 6-Reds Championship semi-finals which was for the first time.
Prior to that Qatar cueist won several medals at top Asian tournaments and Russell had the proud distinction of producing Qatar’s first professional player in Ahmed Saif last year.
Speaking on the pros and cons of the local cueists who are undergoing training; He was said there are talented players in Sri Lanka. “They are really interested in learning the game and that too seriously. What they need is the basic facilities which is lackinghere and also if they are to improve the main body should at least conduct five high ranking tournaments with some prize money on offer.”
He further said “another important factor is that they should be given foreign exposure as much as possible which the other playing countries are doing. In India and Thailand they keep on producing top players. It’s due to the interest taken by the governing body”.
He further stated that the present president and secretary of the governing body in Sri Lanka have playing experience and they know what the players needs are. “I am sure that they will take the right steps to improve the standard of the game in Sri Lanka.”
Russell also said “ I cannot produce top players overnight but I will do my best as I love this game very much which I have been involved for over three decades.”
Russell also added that discipline and commitment are important qualities that he seeks from the prospective players.
“Players should be caught young and the best age is around 11 or 12 years and that was the age when I got involved with the game. So the officials will have to work hard if they want to promote the game.” Russell said.
Russell said the present Asian body president Mubarak al Khayarin could be approached to improve the game in Sri Lanka and also the Sports Minister too has a big role to play as his support too will no doubt go a long way.
Russell has been approached by the Malaysia Billiards and Snooker Association and he has signed a contract with them for three years starting from January 2015.
But he said “I am ever willing to come and support the Sri Lanka players but as I said the approach from this side should be positive or otherwise my coming here will be of no use as it will just be a waste of time. My contract with Malaysia is a open one and I could come and support as I love to share my experience and give back to the game I love very much.”
The coaching stint for the local players will involve the top 16 players in the junior and senior billiards and snooker nationals. Apart from that Russell will travel to Galle, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya during the course of this month.
The cue game in Sri Lanka has been given step motherly treatment, this is a game which produced the first ever world champion. But even then the world champion M.J.M. Lafir was not rewarded for his tireless effort and died a pauper.
Sri Lanka is fortunate to get a top player in this sport who is regarded as a legend and the greatest player of the modern era not only in his country but in any country that he has played in Australia, Malta, Singapore, New Zealand, India or his own country England.
| A brief breakdown of Russell’s achievements since 1989: World Titles 17: 11 Professional and 6 International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) titles. World Matchplay 5, British Open 3, Northern Open (UK) 3, Yorkshire Bank (UK) 1, European Open 1. Indian Grandslams 12: Madras 5, Bangalore 4, Hyderabad 3. |