This post is debrief of the last competition and record of a
few learning and observations for future reference.
I played the South Pacific National Ranking Snooker
Tournament at Club Marconi over the last weekend 8, 9 September. I have been practicing on the Shender table over the last month and have been cueing well. So there were self-expectations to perform
better in this competition. Also, first tournament after settling in Canberra and traveling to Sydney for
the competition.
Saturday morning 9 am was my first match. I was fully focused and relaxed. There were almost zero distractions to the
extent I did not even know or bother to know who plays in the next table. I did not often realize who my opponent is
during the match play time of 1+ hours. I
insulated myself so much from anything outside the 4 cushions of the snooker
table. Consequently, I was playing so very well,
cueing smooth and straight, and making regular breaks of 20s and 30s. I did not show any loose balls to my opponent
at all, playing excellent safety shots. I
took every chance given and punished the opponent with clinical precision
in every given opportunity. Final result
was 3-0 in my favour! Match got over by
10.15 am I reckon. Do not under estimate
the opponent though. In fact he was
cueing very well, had I played my ‘B’ game he would have taken me.
Next match was at 1.30 pm, meaning there was more than 3
hours of break. In this idle time, the
mind wandered and jumped on many different things like a monkey. So many different thoughts, feelings and
emotions that jumps around, comes in, vanishes and took me for a ride. Consequently, when I started at 1.30 pm, I
was not 100% mentally present in the table.
Mind was so laid back without focus and the hunger for attacking and the thirst
for winning simply was not there. This is the problem with the laid back mind as against the 'Switched ON' mind. A laid back mind is relaxed and unfocused whereas a switched on mind is relaxed but focused at the same time. Because
of this laid back mind,
1.
I was looking around who plays on which
table.
2.
I was looking at my opponent, his body language,
cue action etc. and thoughts were around that.
3.
……
Ultimately, I was not switched ON, not tuned to the need of
the moment.
Consequently, I went down 3-1 to this average player
compared to whom I played in the morning !
Moral of the story are:
1.
Physical game/ technical game happens easy and
natural once the mind stays within the periphery of the table throughout the
match.
2.
Meaning, all that I have to do is to Switch ON myself once am in the table. All the practice done will take over by itself and deliver the required goods. Which still means, there is no alternate to rigorous practice sessions.
In other words, for me, the success in the tournament
majorly depends on my ability to Switch
ON and Switch OFF myself as per my will. This has to be trained during the training sessions as it cannot happen
suddenly during the competition!
I should work on this one mental skill set i.e. to be able to
switch ON myself as and when required and be there for hours together. This switch that I am yet to figure out
should be 100% under my control.
Switch ON meaning – all your faculties are fully alert and
focussed ONLY on the balls and within the table. Faculties meaning mind, body, emotions and
energies.
In a way, what I am after is nothing but being in a meditative state
during the tournament matches. Thus
justifying the blogpost title J.
Nice one Bro. A lot of take away's for me from this :)
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