Find out more about snooker’s most successful overseas player.
By Henry Cheal
Favourite Movie?
Shawshank Redemption. It’s a film I first think of whenever somebody asks me that question. It’s the perfect movie really. The ending is amazing - everything you kind of hoped would happen while you're watching the story unfold.
Favourite TV show?
Game of Thrones up to season five, but I think they ruined it with the last season. I really enjoyed Better Call Saul - I didn't think it would be possible to have something in that kind of genre better than Breaking Bad. Better Call Saul had better characters, they just absolutely nailed it.
Favourite food?
My wife Mille makes an amazing curry. She makes everything from scratch, including the naan bread.
What are your hobbies outside snooker?
I used to be really into gaming, particularly World of Warcraft, I played in a high rank guild. At one stage I was playing with the best in the world, but it would take up a lot of time. When I was away at tournaments, staying in hotels, it was like a really good way to kill time. I have eased off on that now, but I still play Warhammer 40,000 which is a futuristic universe with galactic battles. Last year, I played a really big Warhammer tournament, the Leeds Grand Tournament, where I did pretty well. And at the London Open I was voted the best painted army, so that was that was a really nice award to pick up.
What's your favourite thing about being a snooker player?
Being able to enjoy something that I'm most passionate about and something that I'm really good at, and earning a living from it. It’s great to see different parts of the world I'd never would have gone to otherwise. Seeing a lot of different parts of China has been pretty amazing.
What's the hardest part?
Being away from family for sure, that’s really tough. My son used to hate it when I’d go to China because it meant I'll be away for a week and a half. And now my daughter is getting to realise the same thing.
What's your first snooker memory?
Playing with my brother in a snooker club in Melbourne. We would go to a club every Friday, Saturday or Sunday morning, my dad would be playing snooker with one of his friends and my brother and I would play pool.
Your best memory?
Winning the world title in 2010 and winning the Masters in 2022 with my daughter Penelope there. I’d had that moment with my son Alexander before, so when Penelope was born I thought I'd love to experience the same thing with her.
What is your biggest achievement in snooker?
I have had some big obstacles in life. Coming from Australia and moving to the UK permanently was very tough on my family back home. Especially in the early years, the internet wasn't as easy to manage as it is now with like things like Facetime, WhatsApp and sending photos and videos in a matter of seconds. Back then it was going to an internet café, writing a big, long email and then waiting for the email back. My family in Australia has got 20 years older in what seems like the blink of an eye. Emotionally that can be pretty tough to deal with. So to do that for two decades and to have been successful is a really good achievement.
How much did you enjoy working for BBC at this year’s World Championship?
I really enjoyed it. Coming up as a pundit and not a player, that was pretty tough and I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it. But once I got stuck in, it was really good. I had always wanted to try commentary in particular. To start off I had John Parrott next to me and he really helped me get through the early stages and gave me some really good tips.
