By Elliott West
Introduction
It is always a special occasion when the snooker family get together and where no better to spend a Friday night than for a night of pool with Jimmy White at the highly popular Jester’s Sports Bar in Eastbourne, run and owned by the charming and hospitable Ben Saber. With an audience of over a hundred people, Jimmy took on over 35 hopeful players, paying to play a frame of pool against an absolute legend of pool and snooker.
Oh, What a Night!
As those that paid to attend this evening of pool filed into the venue, Kevin Kelly, Jimmy White’s manager gave them a warm welcome and offered them the chance to buy Jimmy White memorabilia, including signed copies of his autobiography ‘Second Wind’, personally signed cues and a chance to have a picture taken with their snooker hero. As the night began, a DJ played personally chosen music to accompany players as they were walked on by my good friend, the one and only Jade Slusarczyk who works in various sports such as darts, pool, snooker and boxing, a lady who is charismatic and amazing at what she does, mingling with to collect money for a chosen charity through a raffle with some amazing snooker memorabilia, provided by the one and only Master of Ceremonies, Colin Phillips.
Played over three sessions, not even the teaming rain outside could suspend play. Players lined up to join the constantly moving queue of hopefuls in a small but cosy seated back room that has a balcony above it where others peered down as they played on the several pool tables upstairs. Glasses were filled with various beverages were filled, emptied and collected as the crowd weaved in and out of the bar area to the sound of Colin Phillips rapping to some of the tunes played and causing a few to break out into fits of song and dance.
Jimmy was victorious on the night but not before a few players pitched against him had their moment of glory. Overseen by the watchful eyes of the referee, Richard Barnicoat, numerous balls were drilled into the various pockets of the pool table, engulfed by the magic of its master, Jimmy White. As the lights went on and the audience dispersed, all involved can reflect on a truly magical and special occasion and one that those who went, can tell their friends, family and loved ones about for many years to come.
