It has been a very long time since I personally picked up a cue in anger. I don’t mean to use as a cosh in some bar brawl, but as the weapon of choice on a pool table.
Laughing aloud the organisers of the Welsh Open, a blackball event I am covering for Cuesport TV, told me they had put me in the main draw.
It would have been fine but for two things, I haven’t played any form of small ball game for about two years and I didn’t have a cue.
The cue problem was solved by borrowing a very nice Trevor White one piece owned by Paul Bushnell. I can’t reply you in words how nice that cue is!
Ok so we come to the second problem, not having played for a very long time.
I have to say I was strangely nervous, with no expectations I expected to be feeling quite relaxed. Not the case!
I won the lag and hit an awesome break. All the balls in situe for a nice dish, I didn’t take it out though failing on my final colour. Luckily though I got a second chance and went 1-0 up!
Second frame I made a nice clearance after my opponent failed to make his break work, and after a bit of a battle. This meant I was leading 2-0 in the best of nine match.
It went downhill from there though! He battled back to lead 3-2 even though I had a chance in every frame.
I did manage to level it in the next only to see him take the seventh frame.
The 8th frame saw a dry break from my opponent with a scratched white. I used my first shot to good effect and looked set to take out the frame only to go in off whilst getting position on the black – gutted!
I lost the game 5-3 and was reasonably pleased with my performance, may even have to start playing again now!
