On July 9th had first letter from B.& S.C.C. inviting participation in World Billiards in Bangalore in August. I rang and accepted right away and was informed that I would have to pay my own travelling expenses. It was difficult to arrange any sponsorship at such short notice but I did have some help and wish to thank: -
David Deakin - Midland Snooker Centre, Hanley; The Officials of the C.I.U; The West Midlands B&S.A. and Members of my Club - "The Reardon."
On the same day I arranged for the various necessary injections. There were ten in all and this left my arm in no state for any billiards practice until three days before departure. Here I must thank my assistant Gloria Wilcox who organised everything in my absence and who also made a dash to Liverpool on my behalf to make passport arrangements. I contacted my fellow invitee Amateur Champion Martin Goodwill and we began to make our travel arrangements. Our first option was a flight on Iraqi Airlines via Kuwait but thank goodness we eventually settled for British Airways thus avoiding the possibility of being held hostage - I wonder if Saddam Hussein plays billiards? And so everything was arranged until, disaster, a 'phone call from the B.&.S.C.C. informed us that India had changed the dates, but not to worry as it would be easy enough to change the flight. In fact there was not a chance so we decided to go as arranged and see what turned up. A further call from the B.&.S.C.C. just a week before departure asked me to send my passport so that a visa might be arranged. I did this and two days later received a form to fill in, a bill for £23.80, and a message to the effect that they hoped to be able to get a badge and a tie to me before the departure. In fact, visa, badge, and tie, arrived in the afternoon just before I left home at 4.00 p.m. on the 9th August.
I arrived at Heathrow from Manchester and met Martin at about 9.45 p.m. We boarded our plane at 10.00.p.m. We eventually left for Bombay at 5.00.p.m. the following day after four attempts at take off, flight aborted because of fuel pump failure on one engine, and a night at B.A's expense in the Kensington Palace Hotel. We made it into Bombay on the 11th in pouring rain, sweltering heat, and to my first experience of the exotic perfume that so many travellers have always associated with India. A perfume that varies from place to place, sometimes sweet and romantically scented with sandalwood and musk, at other times more like that of a dead dog and sometimes a sort of combination of the two. We had missed our connecting flight to Bombay and were stuck.We met up with Shandilya, Patel, and Agarwal at the Sea Rock Sheraton Hotel where we stayed again at the expense of B.A. I think that our Indian friends were able to pull a string or two as, after being told we would have to wait three days for a flight, in fact we got to Bangalore the following day to a wonderful reception and hospitality which was overwhelming in its generosity. The Indian authorities were extraordinarily kind and welcoming.
We learned that the Filipino player had withdrawn at the last moment and that the organisers were exercising their option to include a player of their choice - a wild card. This turned out to be a fourth Indian Manoj Kothari, a very good player who strengthened what was the weaker group on paper. His inclusion turned out to be the downfall of Martin and he played so well that he finished up whining the Title. A number of players were more than a little annoyed to hear that they might have been told of the change of dates somewhat earlier than they were. Brien Bennett, Chairman of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation said that he had had the dates confirmed from India in December '89 and that he had sent this confirmation to the B.&.S.C.C. at the end of December A possible reason for the delay in notification may have been that the tournament would not have taken place had there been insufficient entries, but it seems to me that you are more likely to get sufficient entries if people are given plenty of notice.
Apart from myself and Martin it seems that Sam Clarke of Northern Ireland and Martin Spoormans of Belgium were also informed only at the last minute - ah well!
The Tournament seemed to me to be very open apart from Agarwal who looked unbeatable but not so after all. All the Indians seemed very emotional and liked to play from the front. There seemed to be an undercurrent as to whether Agarwal would be allowed to win but Shandilya put paid to that speculation. No air conditioning until the Indians in the Semis, a big joke with everybody and especially me with sinus trouble. Ever tried playing in a sauna with a wet cue, damp chalk and tip. Sam Clarke could not even wear his glasses. I knew it would be hard constantly needing a towel. My first match against No.1 seed Shandilya I expected to win. 120 points in front he missed. I played from a hopeless leave and after not scoring both Ref and Shandilya said did you not realise a foul was given. I replied no, I was not informed. Ref said sorry and Shandilya went on and made 199 to put him through. Against Patel I opened with 117, Patel replied getting to fifty and then addressed the wrong ball, No, no, no, said the Ref - this your ball, resulting in 172. However with scoring over 1000 and losing 4 matches in the heat I was upset but not too dissatisfied. With the air conditioning on I was able to dress up and play well. Apart from the Indians I believe I was the only one to score over 1000 points in a two hour session. Martin played well but had to leave early owing to cock-up on dates and was livid. We felt a bit like poor relations with everyone else in National blazers etc.
I was called on to reply at the closing ceremony on behalf of all the non-Indian players, and I expressed our appreciation of all aspects of the Finals and the hospitality. I assured the Indians that I will personally guarantee plenty of cold air and a snow machine or two at the next finals, I think that they appreciated this!
Trying to get back cost me a fortune, I finally got a flight on the 31st - 5 days late. Bombay certainly proved to be expensive again due to confusion over dates. Peter Shelley.