He may not be in the same class as Mike Russell or Geet Sethi, but on his day, Peter Gilchrist can give both a run for their money. A purists’ delight, Gilchrist’s best years were snuffed out due to lack of support for the sport back home in England.
But his love for the game made him take up coaching. And when Singapore offered the two-time professional World champion citizenship, the Englishman immediately grabbed that chance.
That rekindled the spark in him. In his second innings now, Gilchrist is lapping up everything the game has to offer.
In Doha for the Asian Billiards Championship, Gilchrist spoke to Deccan Herald on a variety of topics. Excerpts:
How does it feel to be playing for another country now?
Really good. I get a lot more support from Singapore than I ever did from England. The Sports Council is really good. They are really behind all the sport, whereas in England, they backed only a few sports … soccer, athletics maybe. But in Singapore, cue sports is big, so it is ideal for me.
What prompted your move to Singapore?
I was actually National coach here in Qatar and then the Singapore Sports Council got in touch with me and asked if I would be their National coach.
I called my sister, who was a midwife there 10 years ago, and asked her what’s it like and she said it is a lovely place. So I thought I would give it a go — that was around four years ago.
To be truthful, I thought I would spend a year there and see what the culture was like, test something new and then go back to England.
But I went to Singapore and made a lot of good friends. I just love the place. And then they offered me a chance to become a citizen. I thought why not spend the rest of my life there.
Was it a tough decision to make?
It wasn’t difficult. I didn’t have anything to lose. I didn’t particularly want to go back to England. I had just split up with my fiancé so, it was good to get out of England and start anew.
Was the move out of frustration or for monetary benefits?
Yeah, I think if there had been more tournaments in England, and more backing really from our association, maybe I wouldn’t have moved.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, it was just looking after snooker and billiards was just neglected completely.
I’m 39 now and I started when I was 12, so I have been in the game for 27 years. I love it a bit. So, anywhere where I was going to get good recognition is where I wanted to be. And Singapore, fortunately, it does get that.
Do you still coach?
Yeah, I still coach. Luckily, now I can play also, which is what I wanted. When I first went there, it was all coaching. Sometimes when my players were playing, I was thinking, I could just grab his cue and start playing. It’s worse watching.
You were one of the favourites in the Doha Asian Games, what went wrong?
Well, I spoke to Geet afterwards and he ended up with a bronze medal, and I did too. He said to me, in a nice way, that the two best players in the tournament — it wasn’t undermining Ashok (Shandilya) or Pankaj (Advani), because they are fantastic players — have come way with bronze medals, and I said we’ve got to change this format.
All credit to Geet, he said no we don’t, we got to keep it like this. He said we are building the interest of countries like Vietnam, Korea, Bahrain, Qatar, and all coming in. Because an Asian Games gold medal is huge thing.
Now countries are looking and thinking, we got a chance, we can make a 100 break or two 50 breaks.
But if you were to make it all two and four hours, and if the likes of Geet or myself make a big break, they wouldn’t want to go in it.
Do you think the time format is dying?
Unfortunately, I think it is going that way.
Do you think you can make amends for the Asian Games failure here?
Yeah, I think I can. I realised during the Asian Games that I had to be a bit sharper, especially my all-round game. My top of the table is good, but my all-round isn’t.
When I was a kid, I used to practice my in-offs for 2-3 hours, just in-offs every day. I haven’t done that for four or five years. Obviously that’s what I have been doing, gone back to my basics. I’m a bit sharper now. No one likes losing. Yeah, I have got a chance.
What are your views on Pankaj Advani?
I know it is really bad of me, but I haven’t watched him much. I may have watched about 10 shots. Pankaj is obviously a very, very good player.
I feel I can’t comment on him because I haven’t watched him much. He has won the World Championships, he has won the Asian ... And he seems to win everything (laughs).
How would you compare Geet and Pankaj?
I have known Geet for 22 years and I know his game inside out. Pankaj, although he has won a lot of titles, it would be fantastic if he could match, if he could better what Geet has done. Then it will be unbelievable.
The amazing trait about Geet is what he has done. He has made a 1000 break in a match and a 147 break in a match.
He played the Asian Snooker Championships and he made a 147 and also made a 1000 in billiards. Now, I think there is only Joe Davis who has done that, and Joe Davis is dead. Geet is the only man living who has actually done that.
I know Pankaj is very good at snooker. If he ever does that, then he is one of the greatest. Mike Russell, I think, is probably the best and is followed by Geet second.
I don’t know… but Pankaj might be better.