He didn’t nominate what ball to take and I was entitled to question it so I asked the referee if it was a foul because he’s not nominated. He said no because it was clear what ball he was taking for the free ball so I thought ok fine and apologised, and after he took the free ball he was on the blue and taking the mick out of me he called “blue” to the ref and that really, really wound me up! He got me so psyched up that there was no way he was going to beat me!
My first tournament ever was the Ladies World Championship which was held in Swindon in 2002. I didn’t even know what to expect, how many people would be there or what their ability would be like or the standard or anything like that, so I just went there and played and obviously got to the semi-final, so then I thought maybe I can play!
The full story of team Snooker Island at the South West Snooker Academy Spring Festival featuring Reanne Evans, Kyren Wilson, Ben Harrison, Oliver Brown and Jake Frank
I went shopping with Judd a couple of days after he won the UK, and a year ago I went shopping with him and a couple of people sort of looked and recognised him, but this time it was like every other person was looking at him and asking to have a picture. What a difference a year makes, it’s crazy!
I can’t really count it as a proper tournament. We went there early, it was half past 3 in the morning when we set off, and I thought I would have time for a nap when we got there. I was playing at 4pm but we got stuck in traffic in Belgium and it was half 12 by the time we arrived so it was too close to the match and I knew if I tried to sleep I’d feel worse when I got up so I stayed up and tried to get through the first match. I wasn’t feeling well from a couple of days before we got there and unfortunately I just deteriorated as the day went on!
I am an attacking player, although over the years the experience has helped me control what some may have called rash, I thought it was run of the mill shots, and now I feel I am more solid and when I get my scoring boots on I can knock ‘em in pretty quickly!
Initially when I was playing professionally I was about the only player to go and watch. I used to love watching and I still do now, it fascinates me seeing what goes on out there. So although these were the people I was playing against, I used to love going out there as a spectator. I learned a lot through observing what was happening with the other players.
When I was an amateur I was ok like most people, I wasn’t quick but I was normal, and then when I played in the World Championships I’d have people telling me I was quite slow and I’d think ‘Quite slow?’
I really would like to go back to playing on the main tour, but here in Brazil we need to work much more on the marketing aspect of snooker so that it receives the same sort of investment as other sports. This isn’t just for me, but for snooker as whole. But yes, I really would like to return.
Winning the PTC meant a lot to me. I didn’t expect to win going into the tournament, I just wanted to win two matches to secure my place in the top 64, and then it just got better and better. I couldn’t believe I’d won!