Ian Will has been playing pool for more than five decades, and is now in the best form of his long career.
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The Gordon resident has returned from England as a world champion, being part of the Australian Masters team that took out gold at the 2017 Eight Ball World Championships earlier this month.
Mr Will said the win as part of the six-person Masters team was has been the pinnacle of his time competing in the sport.
“It’s a huge achievement. I’ve been playing the sport for a long time, and to win a world title, that’s been the dream,” he said.
“It’s like the holy grail in some ways. To win a world title will be the highlight of my pool career.”
This has the been the first time an Australian contingent has won the Masters world championship title since 2011.
After making it through the round-robin stage of the tournament and advancing through the semi finals, the Australian team went up against Ireland in the final match up.
Mr Will said it was a tight contestant, with the winner being the first team to get to 13 frames.
“Ireland got off to a good start and were leading 4-0,” he said.
“We then managed to pull back and ended up winning 13-8.”
The most recent competition wasn’t the first time Mr Will has represented Australia, previously taking part in an international test match against New Zealand, as well as competing individually in several world championships.
He said the level of competition at this year’s event was among the toughest he had faced.
“It was pretty comprehensive, you have people from around the world competing up against you,” he said.
“Everyone is extremely competitive, and it’s really cut throat. You can’t just sit on your laurels and you have to be on your game.”
The pool player has also taken out the ACT Eight Ball Masters Singles Championships a record seven times since 2010.
Mr Will also operates OnCue Sports, a Canberra-based company that helps to supply pool tables and equipment around the area.
He said he has always had a fascination with the sport from a young age.
“I couldn’t get enough of it, I had to get on the table any time I saw one,” he said.
As for the trophy he received from taking out the world championships, he said he knows exactly where to place it.
“We got a nice big trophy each, and it’s absolutely going to the pool room,” he said.
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
