Sweet Victory

Won my very first snooker match yesterday. It was the first round of the freshers' snooker league.

This is my first competition experience. That's why it's so memorable.

It was a best of 3 frames match. Prior to the match, I had to wait about 4 or 5 hours because there were not enough tables and I was one of the last to play. My concentration was sapped to the max man. So worried that I could not play well.

My opponent was a south east asian. I'm not sure where he's from, probably Thailand or Vietnam. But that's not important.

What's important is that we were evenly matched. Not that we were both pro or something. But when you are playing someone of your level, its the same as playing a match against yourself. And it's about going beyond your normal playing standards.

Cliched? Maybe. Nonetheless true.

All I can say is that it was nothing short of exhilarating. For me at least. He started the first frame. On my first visit, I potted a long red into the bottom pot. Confidence was SKY HIGH!!!! Haha!!

After that everything went more or less downhill. Haa!

There was one instance where due to unfamiliarity with the rules I even potted the wrong ball. Indirectly caused me to lose the first frame.

How could one wrong pot cause me to lose a frame you might ask. Like I said, we were evenly matched. So the score difference was always marginal.

All 3 frames went to the last black ball. My heart was in my throat all the way. Initially, I could still keep in control. Nearing the end, I started to get frustrated as my concentration wore off and I made silly mistakes.

So, after losing the first frame, I went on to win the next 2. Of course, otherwise how could I win the match. In the second and third frame, there were even instances where I was more than 20 points behind. Quite considerable, given that at the end of each frame each of us only had 40 to 50 points.

It was so close in the second frame that when I won the frame after potting the black ball, I was only 1 point ahead. Can you imagine how pressurising that was? The WHOLE match hinged on that single black ball.

After the second frame, I felt that even if I lost the match it was ok. The last black ball made it all worthwhile. Haha!!

Overall, it was an extremely long match. Both of us were tired, frustrated and fresh out of concentration. Many times I had wanted to give up and throw the last frame. But my pride didn't allow me to do that.

I was glad that I could step up my game and rise to the occasion.

Actually, 3 frames is hardly a judge of who is the better player especially when both are evenly matched. I am happy not just because I won, but also because I was greatly challenged.

I am grateful to my opponent. We had a great and gentlemanly game. I would definitely want to play him again not for competition, but to find out who is the better player...