Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL

Q: How did you do at school?
A: I didn't take my GCSEs. Think the headmaster told me to go!

Q: At what age did you start playing snooker?
A: I started when I was 6.

Q: When did you decide that snooker was for you?
A: At 11 I made my first century break and at 13 I started winning junior tournaments.
I won the Welsh Youth tournament at 14 and then realized that it would be my career.

Q: Who are your heroes in snooker?
A: When I was younger, Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White were my heroes. Stephen Hendry was always a winner and I really admired him. We are good mates now and it's strange to think that he was my hero and now we get on really well.

Q: Why do you think at the moment Welsh players are so prominent? There were Griffiths, Reardon and Mountjoy...
A: I wish I could tell you! Maybe we're trying to follow their footsteps.

Q: Who was your favourite Welsh player... Reardon, Mountjoy or Griffiths?
A: I have to say Griffiths... cos I play in his club!! Obviously Reardon won it 6 times - he's a great player.

Q: What has Terry Griffiths helped you with the most?
A: He coached me years and years ago but he said that I didn't really need coaching.
I was more of a natural player, so though we play in the same club we just have a chat now and again.

Q: Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
A: My dad Morrell.

Q: Have you ever scored a 147 in professional matches?
A: Not in a pro match, but done a few in pro-ams.

Q: Who do you consider to be the best snooker player of all time?
A: Stephen Hendry.

Q: Who's your best friend out of all the snooker players?
A: I've got a few... Mark Williams, Paul Hunter.

Q: Outside of snooker, do you have any major ambitions?
A: I couldn't do anything else! It is hard work and not just about turning up and playing. People don't realize how hard it is. They see you on television and think it's like that all the time.

Q: What advice do you have for budding young players?
A: Practice hard and enjoy snooker. If you don't enjoy it, there is not much point.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE?

Q: What's your favorite outdoor sport?
A: Golf.

Q: Who is your sporting hero?
A: Tiger Woods.

Q: What is your favourite sport team?
A: I support Tottenham and Swansea City.

Q: Favourite food?
A: Chinese or Indian.

Q: Drink?
A: Diet Coke

Q: What's your favourite band?
A: Keane.

Q: What's your favorite colour?
A: Yellow.

Q: What's your favourite holiday destination?
A: Majorca.

Q: Favourite TV-programme?
A: I watch a few soaps, especially "EastEnders" and "Coronation Street"

Q: Favourite film?
A: I like so many, including lots of gangster films. "Midnight Express" might be my favourite.

Q: Actor or actress?
A: Robert De Niro.

Q: Comedian?
A: Ricky Gervais.

TOURNAMENTS

Q: How many hours a day do you practice?
A: Five.

Q: Apart from practice - what kind of preparation / training do you do?
A: None really...

Q: Do you find it harder to play well under pressure, or do you find that the pressure brings out the best in your game?
A: Works both ways. Sometimes you play better. I think mostly you play better. You're concentrating more.

Q: What do you do between intervals?
A: Just sit in the dressing room and have a fag!

Q: What is the best way to practice?
A: Just set the balls up and smash them about! Learn from there!

Q: Why haven't you ever had outbursts like Peter Ebdon?
A: Not that type of person! I don't show that much - keep it all inside.

Q: Do you ever sit hoping your opponent will miss?
A: All the time...

Q: What's your favourite snooker venue?
A: The Crucible.

Q: What's your ambition in snooker?
A: To win the World title!

Q: What is the highlight of your career so far?
A: Winning the UK Championship and the Masters.

MISCELLANEOUS

Q: What car do you drive?
A: BMW X5

Q: What was your first car?
A: Ford Fiesta turbo. I wrote it off in a head-on collision, which wasn't much fun.

Q: What's the water like that we always see you snooker players drinking like?
A: Who says it's water!

Q: Why is it that most snooker players like playing golf?
A: It's nice to get out I suppose... play for money!

Q: Why do players twitch their finger whilst playing?
A: Just a habit I think - you don't know you're doing it.

Q: Where do you get your shirts with the Welsh Dragons on the cuffs?
A: I didn't buy them from a shop. It's a normal shirt - just embroidered.