Interview with Nigel Bond: "Semifinal in India proved that I can still do it at 51"

Recently i got a chance to chat with Nigel Bond. He´s a proper old school potter whose had a long and respectable career. He was nice enough to do this interview with me which i thought was very kind of him, considering i´m a Finnish blogger with a tiny blog. He talked to me about many things, for example about the possibility of continuing his career, and about the love he still feels towards snooker, a game that got him hooked more than 30 years ago.

Lets start with the latest news (which at the time was German Masters qualifiers). You suffered what I imagine was a pretty painful defeat against Aditya Mehta. You led 3-1 after the interval but in the end lost the deciding frame. Based on numbers it was a pretty long match, quite a few scrappy frames and lot of safety game. How do you feel about that match?

The German masters was pretty much like it's just been in the Scottish open. It's difficult when you are suffering with a lack of confidence, you tend to play less aggressive and frames can go scrappy like you say. I started the match well to go 3-1 up but as the match went on I got worse. I did have the chances to win 5-3 against Adiyta.


Your season so far has been a bit of mixed bag: great run in India (semifinal) but after that it´s been quite tough for you. Tell us a little bit about how you´re feeling right now about your game and the season so far?

I feel I'm playing OK in practice against the Chinese boys at the academy in Sheffield, which has been good for me but losing a lot of first round matches dents your confidence and you get on a downward spiral which is hard to get off.


Last season you talked about the strong possibility of retirement after the season, but then decided to continue. What kept you playing?

I think practicing at the academy has given me a spark. All the Chinese players work hard and put the hours in, it's a great set up and makes you want to play. I did well in the World Championship qualifiers and when you've devoted your life to something it's hard to just stop.


You´ve slipped in rankings a bit now, and your pro-card expires after this season unless you can get back to the top64, or finish in the top eight outside of the top 64, based on prize money won during the 2016/17 season (tricky stuff this!). And actually your situation is pretty good on the latter scenario. How do you fancy continuing your career after this season if it´s possible?

 If I was to drop off the tour there´s no way would I go to Q-School. I've had my time but if I stay on then I will see how things pan out.


You´ve had a long and successful career. You started your professional career in 1989. Many things have changed since then. How do you see snooker as a sport now opposed to what it was when you started? 

The game has changed massively. The tour has become worldwide. When I turned pro the game was mainly British based with a couple of tournaments overseas. There was a lot of dead wood on the tour with the same faces on the TV all the time hence why they became household names. Now even down the rankings the standard is so good. The players are more professional, practice more and more disciplined which you have to be. Sport in general is so much more competitive nowadays.


Can you tell us about how you feel about snooker these days? I mean you´ve played snooker for such a long time, and i'm sure you started out like most of us, simply because you loved the game. How much of that love is left? Is it still more about the love for the game, or is it more professional thing, just something you have gotten used to doing? How much of that old magic is still left in your eyes, do you still love the game?

Absolutely yes. I got hooked on the game and you couldn't keep me off the table. It's harder to love it when you are on a bad run but the highs far out way all the lows. To reach a ranking semifinal this season in India for the first time in 14 years was a massive buzz and that's what drives you as a player. It proves to me that I can still do it at 51!


Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O´Sullivan and Mark Williams, to mention a few, have all said that in the 90´s the standard of playing was higher than today. Everyone knows there are more players now than ever, who are able to win tournaments, but i presume they mean that the top players were better in the 90´s. How do you feel about that?

Some of the top players from the 90's are still up there which shows just how good they are. It was a golden era for the game. There was a club in every town and everyone played. They certainly set the bar high. The standard at the bottom has gotten closer to the top, that´s why there aren't really any shocks these days as you know how good everyone has become. There are more players now capable of winning tournaments than ever.


During this long career you´ve had some great moments like World Championship final (1995), winning British Open (1996), Shoot-out (2011) and World Seniors (2012). Of course you´ve had disappointments as well. What do you consider the high points and low points of your career so far?

My high points are obviously the World Championship final and winning the British Open but any tournament win is a high point. I suppose the lows for me are when I play poorly and don't perform to the standard I know I can.


You are coaching at the Victoria Snooker Academy these days, which I hear is an amazing place for practicing snooker. Can you tell us a little bit more about your involvement? How much you coach, who you coach? Are you planning to turn into a full time coach after your snooker career ends?

My involvement was from the outset. I had asked Victoria with her contacts in China about the possibility of doing some coaching over there. That´s when she mentioned about setting up her own academy in Sheffield. We looked at a few possible properties to set an academy up. Any enquiries we receive regarding coaching will go through myself but they are mostly amateur players. I think coaching is the right way for me to go, I've done some coaching in Germany, Macedonia and Russia. I think in the UK to be a full time coach is difficult so it would be nice to coach all over the world as I enjoy the travel, seeing different places and meeting new people.


Ronnie O´Sullivan has, or at least had, his own show on the EuroSport. If you had your own show, The Nigel Bond Show, who would be your first guest and why?

If it was a fellow snooker player it would have to be Darren Morgan. He was one of my best mates on tour and we're still good friends, although he never shuts up but I'm sure it would be funny and entertaining!

*****

CuePower Snookerblog would like to thank Nigel Bond for taking time to do this interview. I hope his career will go on and he will get the results I feel he deserves. Class act, on and off the table.

Patrik Tiihosen tähtäin ulkomailla: "Täällä Suomessa oikeastaan pelataan snookeria ihan väärin"

Patrik Tiihonen on yksi Suomen tulevaisuuden toivoista snookerissa. Vasta 16-vuotias snookerlahjakkuus oli syysloma- ja treenireissulla Helsingissä, jolloin pääsimme viimeinkin istahtamaan alas ja vaihtamaan ajatuksia kasvotusten. Ujo nuori mies osoittautui fiksuksi ja lopulta jopa puheliaaksi. Hän on päättänyt menestyä. Mutta tie on pitkä ja kivinen, varsinkin Suomesta ponnistaessa.


Viime viikonloppuna pelattiin Oulussa Suomen ranking osakilpailu, pääsit kahdeksan joukkoon, mutta tie nousi siinä vaiheessa pystyyn. Mitkä olivat odotukset Oulun suhteen?
"Viime kaudella menestys oli hyvää, sijoituin tasaisen varmasti sinne kärkisijoille. Niinpä odotukset olivat ehkä turhankin kovat tälle kaudelle tultaessa. Tuntuu ettei enää oikein tyydytä nuo kahdeksan parhaan joukkoon sijoittumiset, tai semit."

Katsotko, että tästä lähtien, vuoden 2017 SM-kisoista lähtien, on mahdollisuudet taistella SM-kullasta? Onko Suomen SM-huippu kuinka kaukana omasta pelistäsi tällä hetkellä?
"Harjoitusmatseissa, kun pelaan Suomen huippuja vastaan, niin pärjään erittäin hyvin. Kisatilanteessa homma kuitenkin aina vähän kääntyy. Sanoisin kuitenkin, että jos pelaan omaa hyvää peliä, niin täällä Suomessa voin voittaa – Robin Hullia lukuun ottamatta – kenet tahansa."

Voittoja on tullut Suomessa jo SM-tasolla ja kansainvälisesti hyvää menestystä nuorten MM-kilpailuissa. Onko tässä mielessä erityisiä tavoitteita tulevaisuudelle, kerätä menestystä ennemmin kotimaasta vai nuorten MM-tasolta?
"Tottakai tavoitteet ovat ulkomailla, siellähän mä haluan menestyä ennen kaikkea. Ehkä seuraavina vuosina haen vielä menestystä ennen kaikkea noista junnusarjoista, mutta kyllä mä jo ensi keväänä yritän päästä mukaan miesten EM-kilpailuihin. Näitä Suomen ranking kisoja pelaan oikeastaan vaan sen takia, että sitä kautta – eli rankingin kautta - saa sitten edustuspaikan noihin ulkomaisiin kilpailuihin."

Suomen ja maailman huippusnookerin tasoero on melkoinen. Voiko Suomesta ponnistaa maailmalle? Pystytäänkö täällä kehittämään nuoria, lahjakkaita pelaajia?
"Jos verrataan Suomen snookeria ja huippusnookeria, ne ovat kaksi ihan eri lajia. Voisi jopa sanoa, että täällä pelataan ihan väärin tätä peliä. Usein yritetään liian negatiivisella pelillä voittaa pelejä, pelaamalla hitaasti ja niin edes päin. Tuolla junnukisoissa maailmalla painetaan hirveällä tohinalla ympäri pöydän ja pistetään pallot koteloon. Juuri tämän takia, jos saisin valita, kävisin vain ulkomailla pelaamassa. En oikeasti edes tykkää pelata Suomessa.  Miksi Suomesta ei ole tullut muita ammattilaisia kuin Robin Hull? Eihän se ole mikään ihme. Eniten olen pettynyt siihen, että liitto ei panosta mitenkään valmennuskulttuuriin. Se on se suurin juttu. Katsotaanpa Venäjälle, siellä käy Nigel Bond valmentamassa ja monia muitakin englantilaisia huippuvalmentajia."

Tietysti näissä asioissa resurssit ovat avainasemassa. Suomen snookerissa ei ymmärrettävistä syistä paljon raha liiku, joten suuria panostuksia vaikea tehdä.
"Uskon, että muutamaa lahjakkainta olisi mahdollista tukea paremmin. Se on huolestuttavaa, että pelaajilla ei mahdollisuuksia kunnon valmennukseen. Liitolta voi saada pari sataa euroa tukea turnaukseen lähtiessä, mutta siihen se jää. Mutta olen tehnyt itselleni selväksi, että haluan kuitenkin edetä uralla omaa reittiäni. Näinhän Robinkin teki, ei välittänyt liitoista pätkääkään."

Tulevana viikonloppuna pelataan Pietarissa U17 Fireballs-turnaus, johon olet osallistumassa. Mistäs siinä on kyse?
"Se on Venäjän liiton järjestämä turnaus nuorille pelaajille Venäjältä, Baltiasta ja Suomesta. Olin itse asiassa tuossa turnauksessa myös neljä vuotta sitten kun vasta aloittelin pelaamaan. Sijoituin siellä kolmanneksi silloin. Muistan sen hyvin, koska sitä ennen en ollut Suomessa pelannut edes divarikisoja, pelkästään viikkokisoja Jyväskylässä. Lajipäällikkö sitten soitti ja kysyi, että haluaisinko edustaa Suomea. Se oli kyllä jännää. Nyt kisa järjestetään siellä Pietarissa uudestaan, muutaman vuoden tauon jälkeen."

Qatarissa, Dohassa, pelataan IBSF:n snookerin MM-kisat. Sinne et ilmeisesti ole menossa, vaikka jossain vaiheessa sellainen suunnitelma kai oli?
"Joo kyllä oli tarkoitus mennä, mutta reissu tulisi niin järjettömän kalliiksi, että pakko jättää väliin."

Olet sanonut, että muutto Englantiin on jossain vaiheessa varmasti realismia. Toisaalta olet lukion juuri aloittanut Suomessa. Onko näistä liikkeistä vielä sen suurempia mielikuvia vai mennäänkö vuosi kerrallaan?

"No tästä eteenpäin kolme vuotta ollaan lukiossa, sitten olen jo 19 vuotta. Ja kai joku ammatti pitäisi myös opiskella. Ja armeijakin pitäisi käydä. Joten tosi vaikea sanoa, mutta toivottavasti joskus viiden vuoden päästä voisi kuvitella olevan mahdollista. En tiedä onko se edes ihan täysin pakollista muuttaa Englantiin, jos tekee kaikki oikeat valinnat täällä Suomessa. Jyväskylästä pitää kyllä päästä jossain vaiheessa pois, esimerkiksi Turkuun tai Helsinkiin, ja pitäisi päästä noiden kovien kavereiden kanssa harjoittelemaan, kuten Robin Hullin. Pessi Lyyra valmentaa mua, ja uskoisin, että noilla opeillakin voi päästä vaikka kuinka pitkälle, vaikka ei nyt ehkä ihan huipulle pelkästään kotitreenillä. Kyllä siellä Englannissa olisi pakko käydä ainakin harjoitusreissuja tekemässä, käydä niiden akatemioissa harjoittelemassa."

Niin, olet ilmeisesti treenannut jonkun verran Robinin kanssa täällä Suomessa.
"Joo, olen muutaman kerran hänen kanssaan treenannut. Ennen junnujen MM-kisoja kävin hänen kanssaan pelaamassa."

Olen usein kuullut sanottavan: "Patrik on seuraava suomalainen snookerammattilainen", tai jotain muuta vastaavaa. Olet itsekin ehkä kuullut niin sanottavan. Miltä se tuntuu kuulla, tuleeko sellaisesta paineita?
"Ei tule paineita. Se on mukava kuulla, että ihmiset ajattelevat niin. Oikeastaan se vaan antaa lisää tsemppiä harjoitteluun."

Jos siirrytään ammattisnookerin puolelle, ketkä ovat lempipelaajiasi, ketä katselet mieluiten televisiosta ja miksi?
"Tekniikka- ja mentaalipuolella katselen Shaun Murphya."

Kuinka paljon katsot ammattilaissnookeria? Kuinka tärkeää on mielestäsi oman kehittymisen kannalta katsoa maailman parhaiden pelaajien pelaamista?  
"Sanoisin, että se on todella tärkeää. Ehkä eniten siinä seuraan sitä, että mitä se vaatii olla ammattilainen ja mitä sen oman pelin tason tulee olla. Tasohan on jäätävä tällä hetkellä. Erät ratkaistaan usein käytännössä yhdellä visiitillä pöydälle. Tietysti seuraan myös tuota kiinalaisten tuloa. Hurjia tyyppejä. Yan Bingtaokin vasta 16 vuotias. Myös lyöntivalikoimaan on tullut oppia ammattilaissnookerista, ja siihen mitä ammattilaiset ylipäätään tekevät siellä pöydän ympärillä."

Ronniella on oma ohjelma Eurosportilla, tai on ainakin ollut. Jos Patrik Tiihosella olisi oma snookerohjelma Eurosportilla, kuka olisi ensimmäinen vieraasi (jos saisi vapaasti valita), miksi ja mitä häneltä haluaisit kysyä?
"Jaah…. Aika pahan kyllä heitit nyt. Varmaan pyytäisin jonkun legendan, joka tietää mitä pitää tehdä menestyksen eteen. Mitäköhän sanoisin? Ronnie O´Sullivan tai Stephen Hendry varmaankin."

* * *

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Retiring Andrew Pagett: "Been there, done it, got the T-shirt"

Cue Power Snookerblog had an opportunity to chat with the retiring snooker pro Andrew "The Welsh Wizard" Pagett from Wales. Pagett talked about the reasons why he wanted to retire, about his friendship with legendary Mark Williams, about his family and even about the possibility of a comeback. 

 

Great chat, great person, great (ex) player. Here´s the Q & A.

 

Andrew "The Welsh Wizard" Pagett

 

Q: Some time ago you made it public that after this season you are going to retire from snooker. What led you to this decision? After all you are quite young for a snooker player.

A: The professional snooker tour has reached a stage that to be a top player you must play in every tournament. Its hard when you’ve got a young family. For most of the season I was living out of a suit case, jumping on planes, going from one hotel to another and sometimes this can all get on top of you!

 

Q: Now it seems that the last match you ever played as a pro was your second round match against Alan McManus in the 2015 World Championship qualifiers at Ponds Forge. How did you feel after the last ball was potted and the match ended?

 

A: Do you know what, I couldn't wait for the match to be over with, I was sat in my seat thinking what the hell am I doing here! I'd been up in Ponds Forge qualifying for 5 days and it hit home that the professional game is now for single lads without a family!

Q: What kind of role will snooker play in your life after retirement? Like i said, you´re quite young, surely there can be a possibility for a comeback someday?

A: I’m going to take the whole summer off and spend some quality time with my fiancé and 2 daughters, go on a few holidays and then maybe I will want to come back to snooker. I think I will play a lot of local stuff first and then you never know I might feel hungry enough to come back as a professional.

 

Q: I´ve heard you say you don´t need to play snooker to earn a living. Do you have some other profession outside snooker tables already? If yes, has it been difficult to balance snooker with your work outside the tables?

 

A: I am the proud owner of AP DISCOUNTS. This is a discount shop in the valleys that I set up about 4-5 years ago, my family help to run it when I’m away playing snooker but yes its hard to juggle 2 businesses.
 

Andew and "Willo"

Q: You are good mates with Mark Williams. In Twitter your relationship seems to be built on banter (Mark once said that Pagett is the worst snookerplayer ever to play in Crucible), but what about in "real life"?

A: What you’ve got to understand about our relationship is that I was brought up by Mark playing snooker basically, I first met Mark when he was about 19 from then I’v probably spent more time with him then I do with my family, I once lived with him for about 6 months when I was 18, he has helped me out no ends and vice versa, normally our banter on twitter is when we are sat in the club doing nothing and we’ll target someone to wind up! It always works a treat!

Q: I know you practice together as well. What is your relationship like around snookertable, do you train as equal professionals or is Mark coaching you? It must be quite an advantage to have a player of that caliber in your corner?

A: Yes we practise together most days when I can be bothered, I’m not too dedicated I’ll be honest. I’ve always said if it wasn’t for Mark I would never have got to a professional standard, he is tough to play against and if you want to win then you have to be at the top of your game. He does give me a few pointers but not many, I’m not really one that believes in coaches.

Q: So what do you like to do outside the snookerworld? What are your interests and hobbies?

A: I like to go on weekends away with the family, I play golf, cricket and like socializing in the local pub with a few pints and a game of cards!

Q: Im interested in snooker cues so i have to ask about what kind of cue do you use now, and how many cues have you had during your career?

A: At the moment I use a trevor white cue, I’ve had it for about 7-8 years now but I am looking to try something new so John Parris is in the middle of making me a new cue

The Welsh Wizard with his family

Q: Are you a snooker fan? Do you watch a lot of snooker from telly, read blogs or anything like that?

A: If I’m out of tournament then I wont watch the snooker unless one of the welsh boys are playing just so that I can give my bit of support, other then that I don’t think it’s a very good spectator sport because its too slow.

Q: Now that your snooker career is ending, what are the memories that you will be taking with you? Best moments of your career, worst moments?

A: I’m never one to take the worst moments, I can’t really remember any as I can just shrug them off. As for my best memories the one for me will always be playing at the Crucible, when you start out as a professional that’s where everyone wants to play and luckily I can say that I’ve been there, done it and got the t-shirt. Other memories are getting to the semi-final of the Antwerp open with wins over Bingham, Robertson and then another memory is beating world no1 Mark Selby in the Wuxi classic.

Q: And finally, what will you be missing most about being a professional snooker player?

A: Not a lot to be honest, I played at the highest level for years and had some great times and great laughs with all of the lads on tour and will leave with some fab memories that I can tell the kids when their older. Sadly I just fell out of love for the game and felt like it was getting in the way of my personal life. I will miss traveling with Mark and most of the welsh boys because I felt that we were like a little family, I’m sure they won’t miss me though because I was a little pain haha.

*************

I would like to thank Andrew for taking the time to talk to me and answer my questions during the last couple of months or so. I wish him and his lovely family nothing but best for the years to come. 

And who knows, maybe we´ll see him pick up his cue again one day and maybe he´ll give us more shots like this (which was NOT a fluke but a carefully calculated attacking shot by a professional player in a tough situation):