Billiards enthusiasts get a league of their own

Leo Landep, Contributor, Jakarta, leolandep@yahoo.com

An amateur in status but a perfectionist all the same, his stance, stroke -- in fact, every single movement -- are no different from those of a professional billiard player.

For "Paul", billiards is more than a hobby or an evening diversion after a hard day at work.

It's serious stuff.

He repeats to himself a mantra of DOPPS -- short for "Defense, Offense, Precision, Positioning and Spin" -- as a reminder of strategy as well as the technical aspects needed to produce a better game, either for practice with friends or a tournament game.

The last ball -- number eight -- was a difficult shot. The audience watched intently and then clapped in admiration when the bankshot was executed successfully.

Although the recently concluded A-Mild Bali International Open 2005 and last week's 9-ball event in Jakarta garnered heavy publicity for their star-filled fields and hefty prize money, expatriate enthusiasts as well as Indonesians are also fighting it out in the capital.

The Jakarta Pool League's monthly competition for expatriates as well as locals has become popular, including with girlfriends, wives and friends of the players sitting in the stands to cheer their favorites on.

Like the cue ball's color, the players' motivation is pure white. Winning or losing is merely an end result; more important for them is the entire process leading to sending the final shot into the pocket.

And the success of the competition is an indication that billiards has become a mainstream activity.

Young women are no longer shying away from playing a game once saddled with a seedy image of smoky, dimly lit backrooms where no self-respecting woman would dare to venture.

Pool halls are family friendly, with trendy locations such as Gardu in the Taman Ria complex in Central Jakarta and Bengkel in South Jakarta, as well as an increasing number of major national and international events held here, most of which are televised.

At the vanguard in pushing for the image change has been the Indonesian Billiards and Snooker Association (POBSI) and its chief Putera Astaman, especially through the holding of more top- notch events.

For Putera -- who complained only three years ago about the dearth of media coverage of billiards compared to other sports -- the holding of more tournaments, whatever the size or classification, is good news. It's a sign that billiards is more than a fad, but has developed into a serious sport and is here to stay.

Jakarta Pool League chairman Frederick Alloysius, who manages the Aphrodite restaurant and bar in Kuningan, South Jakarta, said the number of players competing had doubled from 200 when the league was founded.

With 13 venues -- Aphrodite, Bugils, Crossroads, D's Kemang, D's Place, Fez, Flanagan's, Everest, F39, Maddogs, My Bar, Oscar's and Sportsmans -- competitions are held on a rotation basis at each spot.

Another upcoming inter-bar competition is planned by the Falatehan Association of Businesses (FAB), to be held in mid May at five restaurant-cum-bars on Jl. Falatehan in Blok M, South Jakarta: My Bar, Sportsmans, D's Place, Everest and Oscar's.

What is unique about the Jakarta Pool League's tournaments is that no cash prizes are on offer, although expensive trophies and other giveaways are made available by some of its sponsors.

"The motivation here is very pure, simply the play-my-best mindset," said Alloysius.

Detailed information on the league and events is available at www.jakartapoolleague.com