On Wednesday 3rd October 1990 I travelled to Heathrow to meet up with the rest of the party travelling to Moscow for the Final stages of the World Matchplay Championship. The party consisted of Mark Wildman together with his wife Jacqueline and daughter Helen, three of the semi-finalists, Mike Russell, Robbie Foldvari, and Ian Williamson, referees Mike Clarke and Bob Sconce, and myself -spectator and recorder. We left Heathrow at 2.p.m, over an hour late in an llyushin Jumbo filled with people of many races travelling via Moscow to various parts of the Far, Middle, and Near East. Mike Russell sat in the rear section and though it was quite warm continued to wear his leather, "Flying Jacket," obviously waiting for a call to help out on the flight deck. The call never came and eventually, like most of the rest of us, he dozed off. This was obviously practice for a subsidiary contest between himself and Ian Williamson which would continue during the week as to who could either sleep most or stay in bed the longest.
We arrived at Moscow airport in the early evening Russian time but took ages escaping. After queuing at the wrong desk and after considerable delay we managed to get our luggage all except Mark's cue and a suitcase. These turned up next day but the WPBSA. banner and some tickets which were also missing did not. Officials from the Soviet Sports Ministry, and Mr. Peter Haill, who, together with his assistant Robert had arranged the staging of the final in Moscow, met us and saw us through the rest of the formalities. A coach was waiting for us and much to everyone's surprise we became part of a cavalcade of police cars etc from the Airport to the centre of Moscow. There was one stop on the way as we visited the Army Officers Club to see the match venue and to meet delegates who had travelled from many of the Republics to attend the finals. There was also to be a Snooker and a Russian Pyramids Tournament to follow the Billiards.
The next stop was the Moscow International Hotel where a superb banquet had been laid on for us. After eating and drinking - Russian vodka, brandy and champagne - during which many speeches were made by our hosts and replied to by Mark, Robbie, and Mike Clarke, we were taken to the Sports Hotel. This was an hotel built for the athletes who competed in the 1980 Olympics. It was late (early!) but Robert insisted we visit his room for more Russian Champagne. We were to get a taste for this particular drink which was very good, opening it caused the cork to blast out at high velocity - just like the real thing. I got to my room at 3.30.a.m. Looking out of the 11th storey the night sky was brilliant. I have never seen the stars shining so brightly. (So that's what Russian Champagne does for you, is it? Ed.)
Up at 7.30 only to discover that the water in the red tap was piped direct from the arctic circle. After several attempts, having checked the bath and foot bath hot taps which were O.K., I discovered that the blue tap dispensed hot water. However, no sink plug, how was one to shave? Before breakfast I went for a walk in the residential district in which the Hotel was situated. There were many people going to work or taking children to school. Though there was frost coming out of the ground the weather was quite pleasant, bright cold sunshine. All the men were taken to the Army Officers' Club so that the participants could practice, Mark played Carom with a local champion who was very good at it. In the evening we were taken into the heart of Moscow and treated to one of their three magnificent circuses. The acts were quite outstanding especially a high-wire clown whose finale was to free-fall head first from the top of the dome only turning at the last moment before hitting the net. There were also performing dogs and pigs. A certain member of our party who was having forty winks almost found he had a new friend as not all the acts took place in the ring.
Friday 5th was bright but perishing cold. I took a walk in the opposite direction to yesterday and saw many shops mostly with empty shelves and queues for whatever food and goods were available. After breakfast the players were taken to practice. The table had been installed the previous evening in the Olympic Basketball Stadium with its massive stands.
The first semi saw Geet Sethi, who had flown in from India, beat Ian Williamson convincingly. The second was won by Mike Russell who beat Robbie Foldvari 4-2. During the tea interval Peter Haill and myself got into conversation with a former Russian boxing champion who tried to rearrange our metacarpels with continuous hand-shaking. There was another late session back at the hotel though the finalists went to bed early. The rest of us were entertained by Mike Clarke and Peter Haill with a never-ending succession of stories and jokes. Later on we were joined by another hotel guest and his two friends. It seems that he was a mountain climber and he was treated to our version of, "limb every Mountain. "his didn't go down too well and his Sherpa friends seemed quite embarrassed at out efforts.
On Saturday we were again taken into Moscow centre where I visited the famous St. Basil's Cathedral whilst the others went to the main department store, "UMS." The Cathedral holds many religious icons and there are lovely murals depicting Biblical scenes. The building is basically a series of quite small chapels under the famous and magnificently coloured onion-like domes. I heard that just a week later the first religious service since 1918 was held. I met up with the rest of the party in Red Square where they had been watching the changing of the guard. Mike Clarke had made a few changes to the usual ceremony so as to get some nice photos. Getting back to the coach we found that Robbie Foldvari was missing. As our schedule was a pretty tight one this was just a little worrying, he turned up in the nick of time and it seems that he had had a mild attack of, "Rasputin's revenge." The Final was a great match even though by the interval it appeared to be all over. Geet could win but one game in the first period and Mike led by five games to one. He won the first game after the break to lead 6 -1 and needed only one more for the Title. Mike made a bad break in game 8 and Geet made a beautiful break of 152. Suddenly everything changed round. With several 70+ breaks and a couple of centuries Geet drew level at 6 all. The spectators, of whom there were approximately 2000 each day, were enthralled and highly appreciative of this wonderful recovery. And so to the final thirteenth game.
Both players, not surprisingly showed, signs of tiredness and tension. Geet scored 46 at his first visit but Mike eventually retained his title making a 77 before running out with 35. It must have been the first English Billiards that most of the crowd would have seen - certainly at his level. It was a great advertisement for the game we all love. (Sec February Issue of B.Q.R. for match report and full scores.)
And so to our final evening in Moscow. We were again taken to the International Hotel for a banquet to celebrate this marvellous match and Mike's victory in the first ever Billiards Championship to be held in Eastern Europe. Between 40 and 50 of the Russian Officials, our party, and other visitors attended a wonderful meal with plenty to drink. During the meal we were entertained by a Moravian gypsy band in traditional costume, about a dozen of them who were also workers at the Hotel. They composed and sang a special song to congratulate Mike on his victory. The men were playing their violins and singing whilst the ladies were singing and shaking things. Although of similar shape but not size I can assure you they were not maraccas. The Moma of the group was directly behind Mike who sat opposite me. He will never know how close he was to having his ears boxed - not with her hands either.
And so to bed. Early taxi to the airport in very bad weather. Boris, who together with Ala, had looked after us as well as being our interpreters, came with me and gave me a Russian bear hug as we parted. They will always be remembered with great affection for all they did for us. It was an uneventful flight home. I shall always be grateful to Mark and his family, to the players and referees, to Peter Haill and Robert, to Trevor, and particularly to our Russian Hosts for the experience of a lifetime.