Billiards enthusiasts get a league of their own
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