The man with a bicycle and a snooker stick

As I start writing this post, I do not have clarity on what are the key points I am going to cover in this.  Though, I know for sure, this is a key post and close to my heart one.  Why?  Because I will be talking about my long time passion Snooker, the green baize game and how much I have traveled along with it.

I started playing this game of concentration, precision and patience during my engineering college days. In the year 1997, first year of college, one of my close friend Sarath Chandra Ivaturi used to take us to this MGM World Games Parlour in Besant Nagar, Chennai that had couple of English pool tables.  Per game costs 20 Rupees, if my memory is right.  There was this gentleman by name Shankar, who was the marker there.  He used to give us tips on the basics of the game.  That was my first meeting with the cue stick and cue games.  Pool table was fun to play.  We used to show off by banging the balls and feel proud of it!

I used to get excited by the basics of the game.  It is all basic geometry and angles and somehow I was able to grasp the theory well.  I was convinced that I am naturally good at it, though later I realized it is not true, which is a different story though!

I had a bigger appetite and pool was not challenging anymore.  I graduated to snooker.  We used to bunk college, and resort to snooker parlors (clubs) mainly because they are air conditioned.  They were the cheap alternatives to cinema theaters to escape the scorching Chennai heat and humidity.  My friend Jaykrishnan was my partner for ‘losers pay’ matches.  We used to frequent the parlors like Billiards Arcade in Rajabather Street, TNagar,  Cybercue in GN Chetty Road, In Strokes in Vadapalani, Snooker times in Tiruvanmiyur signal to name a few.  In fact, we used to go around the city and play in whichever club possible, just for the kick of it.

I was a typical amateur player.  Some days I play at my peak and most of the days I will not be able to replicate the magic.  I used to have my own excuses.  I never had a formal training or coaching but somehow firmly believed that I will make a century break one day.  Mind you, I never even did a 30 break those days.

Days went, months and years went, and I was still struggling with my sporadic form.  I was the champion in the Infosys Bangalore DC level tournament in 2009.  I wanted more.  When I lived in France in 2009-2010, I got a chance to do some sincere solo practice in the SafetyClub in a Parisien suburb.  I was able to improve my game to regular 20-30 breaks.  I was able to secure a trophy for ranking at the Paris district level.  This was my first major recognition for the sport.  The trophy gave a kick for sure.

Back from Paris onsite, had some savings in hand.  In 2011, decided to take a long leave from Infosys, took a sports quota yearly membership in KSBA Club, Cunningham Road, Bangalore.  One stupid mistake was that I did not engage a coach but was practicing on my own.  So, could not progress much on the game, though once in a while used to make 40+ breaks.  Got back to work within 6 months.

I could not digest the fact that I have not made a century break, or not able to get into the top 8 list at Tamilnadu and Karnataka state level.  I used to collapse mentally and miss even sitter balls when it comes to high pressure games, I told you I am a typical amateur!

In May 2015, I took a smart decision that gave a boost to my game.  I got into a coaching program with Nigel Lazor, supported by my good friend Freddy.  Nigel sir fine-tuned my techniques of the game like cueing, bridging etc.  He also pushed me for break building.  Within a month of training, I did make an 88 break in a practice session, which is still unbelievable for me!

In July 2015, landed in Sydney.  The snooker fire still within, but this time more forcefully backed by coaching.  I started regularly playing the weekly social competitions on Thursday evenings at Parramatta RSL Club.  One good thing that deserves special mentioning in clubs at New South Wales is that they are all free of cost for snooker.  This motivated me to be more regular to practice.

Commuting to the club was bit of a problem as the club was couple of kilometers away from home.  I bought this bicycle and also found a velcro tape mechanism to safely tie the cue box into the cycle for easy transportation.  Now you got the relevance of the post title, he he?

I must admit that this snooker season in Parramatta was the best ever I had.  I was in the finals of both the tournaments conducted at RSL this year.  Yes, I have become regular 50+ breaks player now.  Though on both of these tournaments I ended up as runner-up. Cracking the finals is something I am currently working on to improve.

Prize distribution by the Secretary and President of the RSL club, Henry and Bob respectively.

Balancing the family and snooker at the same time is a big challenge.  At this juncture, my wife Priya deserves special mention as she has been a big supporter in providing me the time and space for the game. I know she would prefer me spending time with her than on the snooker table.  But she subdues her own personal preferences and encourages me to do more snooker, just because it is my passion.  Thanks Priya, I love you more than anything, for this J.

I got the courage to play a couple of national ranking tournaments here at Sydney.  I also managed to do a 77 break in one of these tournaments at Marconi Club. 

Currently I am working on two key aspects of the game.  One, mental part - to stay relaxed and focused during the entire match of 5 or 7 frames.  Easy said than done.  But I am getting better.  Two, to practice on fast tables like in Marconi Club and Mounties for example.  This should make a difference while playing national ranking tournaments.

As on today, I am in the 142^nd rank in Australia.  Not bad, as I started Australian season only after August 2015.  Yes, just 5 months back.  My target is to hit the top 100 before the end of 2016.  Till that time, the cycle will keep rolling J.

http://absc.com.au/rankings.aspx

21/09/2017 - Updating the good news that my National Ranking has improved to 82nd position :).

28/03/2018 - 72nd position

21/12/2017 - Parramatta RSL Open - Runner up 2017.  Receiving trophy from Henry, Secretary of the club.

23/01/2020 - The dry period without 'Winner' Trophy has come to an end.  I did win the Parramatta RSL Open Championship 2019 :).

Also Winner of Southern Cross Open Competition 2019, Canberra.