Toti’s blackball player heads to world championship

SOUTH Africa’s number one ranked blackball pool player, Harry Martin, will be competing at the 2021/ 2022 Blackball International World Championship held in Morocco from October 8 to 15.

Harry joined the Ballers Amanzimtoti singles blackball pool league after moving to Amanzimtoti in 2020.
He started playing pool in 2005 at the age of 14, at a games facility near his childhood home in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town before going on to join a club and compete.

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“I played for a number of clubs over the years. My parents were never fond of me playing, but eventually got into it as they started noticing trophies and medals coming through the door,” said Harry.

His long and hard hours in the hospitality industry, while trying to juggle pool, quickly became one of his biggest dilemmas. He said, “It was definitely hard giving up pool and I never thought I would return to the game after six years, and have such a dominating run at a national event.”

All provinces competed at the SA Blackball Men’s Championships held at Gold Reef City, Johannesburg from May 23 to 28. To qualify, players had to participate at club level, playing in a league which is affiliated to KwaZulu-Natal Blackball Association.

He took part in the three events, “In the opening event I won three of the four games. In the team event I played against 16 teams and 79 different opponents and in the singles knock out I played against one player who got the better of the match and I lost 6-3,” said Harry.

At the end of the championship, he was ranked the number one player in South Africa, with 52 wins out of 79 frames played. He also received five out of the six awards at the ceremony, being team runner-up, most break and finishes, most lags won, top provincial player for KZN, number one ranked SA blackball men’s player and team captain for the Protea side going to Morocco.

A week later, he took part in the Top Shot Arnold Classic Blackball tournament held at Ruimsig Stadium, Roodepoort from June 3 to 5. He was one of two players from KwaZulu-Natal. There were 20 players divided into four groups. The tournament was run on world cup format so there was a round robin and knock out stages thereafter.

“I was in group one, who undoubtedly was the toughest group to qualify from as only two players from each group could qualify and mine included a former competition winner and former multiple South African champion and Protea player,” he said.

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He won all four matches in the group stages, with scores of 7-0, 7-2, 7-5 and 7-6. He then won gold in the quarter-finals 7-3, semi-finals 9-7 and finals 9-7. The world championship trip is about R25 000, excluding personal expenses.

Blackball South Africa will be contributing a pro-rata of the amount required. He thanks his employers, friends, family and sponsors for all the support. He also gave thanks to God for putting him in the right spot at the right time.

All donations and sponsorships can be paid into the following account: Capitec, Mr HC Martin, savings account number: 1965753610, branch code: 470010. Alternatively, any company that donates R3 000 or more to this trip will get their company logo branded onto his official shirt, to receive international recognition. For more information, contact Harry on 065 674 1335 or email h.martin432@gmail.com.

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