Snooker: Teen sensation Fazil youngest National Champ first time out

Nineteen-year-old Mohamed Fazul Mohamed Fazil had the honour of becoming the youngest National Snooker Champion in the history of the sport in Sri Lanka. 

He achieved this feat at the recently concluded 64th National Snooker Championship held at the Billiards & Snooker Association headquarters' tables at Sugathadasa Hotel, Colombo. 

The brilliance of his achievement was that, this was his maiden appearance at the National Snooker Championship, and at age 19 only. 

Furthermore, Fazil was representing little known 8 Ball Pool Club. 

The win did not come on a bed of roses. In his run-up to the crown, Fazil overcame the challenges posed by the likes of Susantha Boteju- reigning champion who has won it on 18 occasions before. 

The other win was against Sri Lanka’s No.3 M.M. Mubeen whom he demolished in the final. 

The wins against Boteju was extraordinary, as Fazil first beat him in a round robin match by 4 frames to 2, and then showed that win was not a fluke or, a flash in the pan, by outclassing Boteju in the semi-finals by 5 frames to 1, in the 9-frame encounter. 

The win against Mubeen was another convincing one. 

Even though he conceded the first frame of the 11-frame clash, he won the next 6 frames on the trot, to walk away with the crown by 6 frames to 1. 

After his win, Fazil was grateful to his mentor Zulki Passela- Vice President of the Billiards & Snooker Association, who gave him unstinted support, when he initially took interest in the game. Fazil took his 'Cue' from his brother M.F.M. Fahim, 4 years ago. 

“I was given the opportunity to practise at The Cue Club, with all the facilities including meals, which encouraged me, and I did not want to throw away the opportunity. I got it, and today, I am happy and proud to be the National Snooker Champion at this young age of 19 years.” 

Besides, Fazil said he was given the opportunity to train under World Billiard Champion Mike Russell, which was made possible by Zuraish Hashim, President- Billiards & Snooker Association. 

“I learnt a lot in the 3-month stint that I had with Russell. He saw my game improving rapidly, and I was able to make century-breaks with ease during these training sessions. The confidence I gained during this period brought me the desired results, as I won the 2014 National Junior Snooker Championship, which too was at my first attempt, and repeated the success in 2015.” 

The first National Junior title saw him selected to represent Sri Lanka at the Junior Asian Snooker Championship held in India and the Six Ball Red Snooker Championship in Dubai in 2015. 

This year he was a member of the Sri Lanka squad at the Asian Snooker Championship held in Sri Lanka and reached the last 16, which is his best from the 3 International tournaments he has participated. 

There were disappointments too, along the way, Fazil said, “When I was representing one of the top Cue clubs in Colombo, I did not get the support I needed. At that point, the 8 Ball Pool Club came to my rescue and stood by me. They realised I had the talent and made me a member, providing me with the basic needs I required to polish my Cue skills.” 

Fazil, the last sibling among 2 elder brothers and a sister, has no doubt done the family proud. 

To be National Snooker Champion at just 19 years is no easy task for someone who has been playing the game for just under 4 years. 

In conclusion, Fazil said, “I am glad that I could accomplish this feat at 19. I know I have the time to develop my skills and be a better player. At the same time, I wish that, some day, I would be able to emulate the late and great M.J.M. Lafir. I wish I could bring home the same honours that he brought, which would be the greatest tribute I could pay that doyen of local Snooker”.