Player Information

Nickname/Web username: Oby (The Violator)
Year of birth: 1975
Year started playing pool: 1997
Current team: The Entertainers

Singles Information

Aspirations for the current season:
Win more than I lose.

Greatest pool achievement in singles:

• Getting to the last 16 of the Scottish Singles, beating the current Champion on the way (over 900 entrants, 8 got further)
• Winning the EKPL Singles

Team Information

Aspirations for the current season:
Win the League (and more).

Greatest pool achievement with a team:
Winning various leagues and cups.

Honours in team competition

Multiple league and cup Wins.

Cue

Make: Cheddar Classic
Acquired: Off of Chris Slack (his old cue)
Cost: £50
Tip size: 5.8mm
Who retips it? I do

General Questions

Who, or what, inspired you to play?
An old friend played snooker and had recently joined a pool team and they were short one night and asked me to play (the first Tuesday in February 1997). I played, not owning a cue and just having a general run down of rules. I thought it brilliant when I learned I could snooker players and have the choice to play from where the white finished or pick it up and place it in the D when they fouled. I did it regularly, even when I didn’t need to, just for fun (which made others mad). Ask me when you next see me about that old friend and our visit to the police station.

Favourite EK team you have played in?
The Wizards / The Entertainers.

Favourite EK team you haven’t played in?
Top Guns / Club2000.

Best player you have ever played against?
Tony McCallum (he was the best, as asked for).

Best player you have played alongside?
Tony McCallum.

Favourite pro players (Pool or Snooker):

• Stephen Hendry
• Mark J. Williams
• Thanawat Thirapongpaiboon

Who is your bogey player?
Me, but I never flick it against the wall.

What’s the one match that sticks in your memory
Losing to Mark Gilluley at one of my first IM finals. First time I ever truly bottled it. EVERYONE HAS DONE SO!

What’s would you say your best pool attribute is?
Controlling the cueball.

How would you rate the current standard of pool in EK?
In the top 1/3 of Scottish pool leagues.

What do you think we could do to raise the standard?
Free registration of players under 21 at the season start date. Encourage more practice and tournament play, especially against better opposition when practicing.

Anything else you would like to say?
I detest cheats.