World number 22 David Gilbert is approaching the upcoming season with renewed optimism after a brilliant run to the semi-finals at the Crucible.
The Tamworth cueman enjoyed a transformational end to his campaign, after severely struggling with his form and appetite to compete earlier in the season.
Just a month before the World Championship, he elected not to travel to Yushan for the World Open due to personal reasons. However, a chance meeting with fellow player Andy Lee transformed Gilbert’s fortunes.
The pair prepared for the World Championship together, embarking on a fitness regime as well as a technical one on the table. Lee helped Gilbert to form a routine which involved work in the gym and a strict diet.
After qualifying for the Crucible, Gilbert defeated defending champion Luca Brecel, Robert Milkins and Stephen Maguire to make the last four. However, he bowed out 17-11 against eventual World Champion Kyren Wilson after a high quality semi-final.
We’ve caught up with Gilbert to find out how he reflects on Sheffield and to hear about his plans for the upcoming season…
David, thanks very much for speaking to us. First of all, how proud are you of the run you went on at the World Championship?
“It was a great few weeks. In the build up to the qualifiers, I had absolutely no hope whatsoever. I was just thinking that I might manage to wing it for one match. I wasn’t practising and I had no appetite to play at all. Andy Lee turned up at the club one day out of the blue and we had a bit of a chat, then things changed from there. I put a lot of time and effort into practising. The goal was just to qualify for the Crucible initially. I wanted the chance to play a match there, as I hadn’t been enjoying snooker all that much at the time. To get through the qualifiers was a bonus and saved my season.”
Having trailed 9-6 and won 10-9, how important could that opening round win over Luca Brecel be in the context of your career going forward?
“I was fuming at 8-5 down in the last interval. I’ve got huge respect for Luca, he is the absolute boy, but I thought the match should have been closer. I felt I could still win the game. He was making the odd error and I just had to jump on it. I tried to play a bit quicker and it went my way. It felt great to win that match. Me and Andy were absolutely buzzing after that one.
“It was a big moment beating Luca. I was behind and I never really win big matches from behind. It felt like something big could happen for me. I was very confident from that point onwards.”
It didn’t end the way you hoped in the semi-finals, but were you still able to reflect positively on what you had achieved after that match?
“I loved it out there and I have no regrets. Even in the third session of the semi-final, where I had a nightmare for an hour and a half to end 14-10 down. I made a century in the last frame to keep the game half alive and I got an amazing ovation from the crowd. I had all of these texts trying to be positive. It was as if someone had died. I thought, are you joking? I feel fantastic. The crowd made me feel very special. Even though I didn’t win and get to the final, I am very proud of what myself and Andy Lee managed to achieve. I’ve got nothing to feel bad about. I absolutely loved it out there and I haven’t felt like that for ages. I felt I had another gear to go up and it just didn’t quite happen.”
Is Andy Lee going to be staying on and working with you next season?
“Going forward Andy is going to be helping me. It wasn’t just about having a good mate there to listen to all of my problems. He knew what I was after technically as well. That was very helpful. Interestingly he said he knew what I was doing wrong all tournament, but the balls were going in so he didn’t tell me. After the third session with Kyren, where I missed a few, he pointed it out and when he did I realised I had been doing something wrong all tournament. We had a chuckle about that. I have a lot of faith in Andy. He has really helped me.
“When I was playing really well and in the top 16, fitness was my life. I was regimented, strict and in the gym every day. I need routine in my life. Andy gives me a plan and I stick to it. Fitness is really important for someone, like myself, who is a bit older. I like to feel slim and skinny. If I feel toned in myself and good in my clothes it helps on the table. You feel like you have a lot more energy. You can get away with it in the short races, not in the longer games.”
How good do you now feel looking ahead and what are the goals for the future?
“I just needed routine back in my life. I lost my way a bit. That is obvious and I didn’t want to play. I need to work hard. I did work hard for the Crucible and it showed. If you can play well at the Crucible and get to the semi-finals then that is confirmation you can compete at the highest level. I still want to win it. I believe I can and that is a goal for me. Whereas three months ago I was done and I could never win again. If I stay patient, I know I can. I want to get in the top 16 and be in there properly. Not just jump in and out. I miss being a top 16 player. I’ve felt like a nobody for such a long time. The goal now is to prepare properly and turn up at events to win.
“It felt night and day to earlier in the season. When you are out there and the balls are going in you are at one with the table. To do it at the Crucible was amazing, but you feel as if nothing else is going on. You are aware of your surroundings, but when you are that focussed and know your game is there it is a fantastic feeling. I haven’t felt like that for a long time. I hated being in any arena, whether it be the qualifiers or anything else. To do it on the biggest stage we play in and the most intense one, I get a lot of confidence from that. Going forward I have a lot of optimism.”
Away from the professional arena you have your snooker and pool club Potters. How much have you enjoyed growing the business?
“It is going great. We have a great membership and for such a little club we do so well. We are looking for other places as we want to expand with a couple of extra clubs. We’ve also started a business venture with Potter’s Cues. That is taking off and doing well too.
“We are always looking to expand. My partners Phil Dayton and Neil Horton have been amazing. Over the last few months I’ve done nothing. They just said to focus solely on the World Championship. I didn’t ever think I would own a club, but Phil talked me into it. Thinking about it, hopefully this will be my pension. We hope to eventually have four or five of these. You have to look to the future. Being a snooker professional can only be over a limited time. I’ve wasted quite a few years on that front so I’m not looking to waste any more. I’ve really enjoyed being a bit of a businessman.”
