By Elliott West
Introduction
Snooker comes in multiple forms of gatherings but one of my favourites has to be when I get to go to a snooker exhibition. I have been lucky enough to see, meet and become friends with a number of players through these events and so it was lovely to eventually meet Mark Williams. The three-times World Champion whose dry sense of humour hits the spot and has your body in fits of laughter. Approachable and not changed by his fame, Mark showed his love for his fans and snooker when he made the long car journey from Ebbw Vale, South Wales to play a number of budding local artists players at Frames Snooker and Pool Club in Margate on a Friday night and then making another five and a half drive to Bishop Auckland Snooker and Pool Club near Durham which I attended.
The Night in Question
After a lovely meal with Mark at a local curry house with a few people from the snooker club, all of us gathered in the club itself and those that were brave enough were introduced by the Master of Ceremonies, Colin Philips, a master of his craft walked onto the floor by the one only Jade Slusarczyk and all frames refereed by the excellent Richard Barnicoat. Before a buoyant and often vocal crowd, Mark floated ball after ball in the pockets and made snooker look like a game of marbles, frustrating his opponents and leaving the audience dazed and in awe.
As the beer pumps flowed and the card machine went into overdrive, Mark Williams mingled with those there in the bar area and set up a table and chair to meet and greet his fans, sign autographs and pose for numerous selfies that would be posted on social media and shared with friends and family. A treasured moment for all and a memory that none involved would forget.
Mark, frame after frame, produced effortless snooker that had the cue ball on a string and played to the Williams’ tune. A combination of frames that included a 120 break, flair shots and enthralled the audience. Unlike most snooker tournaments, the silence was never in play but Mark took the high volume of those that cheered in his stride and become an entertainer as well as the aptly named ‘Welsh Potting Machine’ who we all know and love to watch. In full flow, Williams is like a gushing tap that you can’t turn off but you are prepared to let the sink overflow just to watch and savour. A Welsh great, a master of his craft that just points his cue and makes the snooker balls do the work.
After a highly enjoyable night where I got to meet, at last, my good friend Paul Rinaldi and his wife who also brought some of his players along from his North Shields based snooker club, the North East Snooker Centre, the evening ended close to the early hours of Sunday morning and Mark left us all and drove back to his beloved South Wales with his good friend John, arriving home to his wife and children in the wee hours. A truly enjoyable and memorable night, shared with a true master of snooker. Bravo to the organisers, the club and the snooker family that always put on a good show.
It was a pleasure to be there and made the long train journey there and back a distant memory. Snooker times are delightful and always reinforce why I love this sport so much. A passion that I have retained since my teenage years and as I approach 50 in July, still holds very dear to my heart. A game that never fails to fascinate me and can always produce and provide me with the energy that fuels my constant need to write about this enchanting game that is called snooker.
