Firstly my apologies for being away from here so long but with all the pool travelling, projects on the side and then getting extremely ill i just haven't had a chance to blog. So since we last spoke, i went to the Finland Open as a warm up event just before the World Cup of Pool in Manila. My trip was very unsuccessful in Finland but this can be expected at times as today a 10 ball event is not the same game as it once was, i mean tapped in balls and alternate break is like putting me in hand cuffs as i can't do what i do best and gives my opponent a great chance to win. So with this negative pressure on the better player its great to be the weaker player, personally i know that's not "Sport" as a player with better skills(weapons) should be rewarded for his or her talents. BTW a quote at the event from Mika Immonen, Finland No.1 " it's a joke when players hit the break with their handbags and are guaranteed two balls, and don't even get me started with how sloppy these pockets play"... lol...So anyway Finland was a nightmare but at least we all went out to party the night we got knocked out and had a blast. :)
So i get home and pack for Manila, get dropped to the Airport round the corner from home and then sit in my business class seat sipping champagne waiting for the pilot to do his thing. After a nice flight and 12 hours in the air i land at Hong-Kong and wait a couple of hours for my connecting flight to Manila in the Qantas lounge(recommended by the Hitman). Finally land in Manila after another great flight and my driver is on time waiting for me, its straight to the Crowne Plaza for a shower and change of shirt as i got dinner with the Boss Perry Mariano and the rest of the crew, so team Poison was in full effect as myself, Rocket Rodney Morris and Shanelle Lorraine were there too. We had a great meal and then went out for a few drinks as Dragon Promotion crew also joined us later and again it was a blast.
Next day my practice and coaching of my partner begins and will last 3 days until our first match, as i thought we had a slim chance of winning our first match but i played some awesome stuff and had us in a position to not only win but rob our opponents as we were 5-1 ahead and 6-2 and at 7-7 i gave my partner ball in hand position on the 6 ball but he found a way to leave me no where on the 7 and then hes supposed to play safe on the 8 as we discussed but he though he was Efren and tried to bank it and missed by a mile and hung it over the side pocket for our opponents, i thought he was doing a John Higgins on me...lol. I'm still sick as we could have won that match a million times over... next year there's a strong chance my partner is somebody else, i will let you know closer to the time. Here's a clue though, he's an American based Indian kid who shoots great and actually plays pool. Team India will be dangerous next year for sure, two pool players is much better than one pool player and a one snooker/billiard player trying to make a miracle happen.
So i stayed for a bit after we got beat and watched a couple of matches but its hard to watch 9 Ball when its this silly soft cut break with a non sense 3 point rule being used, so in other words i was hanging out with friends and having fun instead. And naturally it was all done VIP style, Team Hundal is the only team to join guys and girls so if your cool enough we might head hunt you to come hang out but don't hold your breath too long. :)
Then i got home after my "Killer in Manila" and thank god for my business seat as coming home is hard after mad partying so i slept all the way home, got home for my dad's birthday on September 11th and had a great family evening as we booked out a restaurant and really enjoyed ourselves as there is no shortage of characters in my family. Then we had a family wedding to attend at the London Lancaster, Park Lane and it was a heavy one for sure. Hitman's favourite line to bar man, "Scotch on the rocks mate but make sure only two small cubes as I'm already cool enough". Then on the way home (i'm not driving), i get dropped to a bar in Twickenham as its one of best friends birthdays and then i'll let you paint the picture but i got home at 3am.
A jetlaggish, hangoverish few days later i fall really sick. I had a crazy temperature with a cold and couldn't event lift a glass of water, never felt that ill or weak before but i guess its a sign I'm getting old and can't party like i used too. Talking of which I'm 29 at the end of this month and will be parting and celebrating in Miami on South Beach, how will i top that for that for my 30th? i'm sure i'll find a way though. :)
The last few days i been playing pool again and been playing well, i added some weight to my cue as it was way to light at 17.5oz, its now back to 19.5oz approximately which is where i though it was and should have always been. I'm looking forward to practicing on my Gold Crown V at Demons the next few days and then i'm going to play the GB9 event in Daventry before my Miami vacation/holiday. Then when i returm i'll update you some more via The Hitman's Blog. :)
Peace.
Raj Hundal
World Pool Masters Champion
http://www.rajhundal.com/
