Proud Elvis Presley fan and snooker amateur William Ginn is out to achieve his dream of turning professional one day – but is doing it his way.
The 33-year-old EASB player from Devon has been playing snooker on and off for 20 years but because of his “normal” job hasn’t been taking it seriously – until now.
Ginn plays on the English Association of Snooker and Billiards tour but missed out on the first event of the season on the English Amateur tour, and actually came by the EASB quite by accident when he stumbled on a couple of videos on Youtube and decided to enter.
He’s really enjoying the experience on the EASB tours, but thinks that the entry fees can be a bit extreme – especially when there are travel and accommodation costs and most of the events are up north.
Ginn explained: “I’ve played in a lot of the tournaments at SWSA, Gloucester. My best run in that was winning one of the Handicap events, I also came 3rd overall in the series which I’m particularly proud of because it was the first time I’d entered it. I also entered the WEBSF Gold Series tour for the first time last season and was very pleased to finish in the top 16 of that. Plus other various pro-ams and handicap comps.”
He added: “One, in particular, I very much enjoyed was the Leytonstone Pro-Am where I drew Shootout winner Michael Georgiou in the first round and although I lost 4-0, I felt I played really well and really enjoyed the experience of playing a professional.”
Ginn obviously loves researching the game because he joked he didn’t think Mrs Ginn liked him spending all his time doing “homework”.
One professional player Ginn respects a lot is Kyren Wilson. Winner of the Paul Hunter Classic this season and Six Reds already, Ginn said: “I’ve got huge respect for pretty much all of the top professionals but if you were to say one I’d have to say, Kyren Wilson. I really do believe he’s one to watch, a fantastic lad who I’ve had the pleasure of watching live, a great role model for the professional game and I believe he’s got the all-around game. ” Ditto.
For Ginn, practice is about quality over quantity and does as much as he feels he can do.
But, he admitted that: “It’s a great era to start playing snooker but if you’re serious, you need to be dedicated to putting long hours in on the table. It’s also a great social game and it’s been proved to be helpful for children’s maths skills, coordination etc. “
He doesn’t think that it’ll change much though with most of the tournaments being up north!
Behind every aspiring star there’s a support network and although Mrs Ginn may not like him spendng so much time doing his snooker homework, she and the 3 kids are his support network and his coach, Nick Dart.
Ginn said: “Nick is more of a sports physiologist but also plays as well and I can honestly say, I don’t think I would’ve come as far as I feel I have, without him.”
His highest break is currently 122 in practice but in competitive play it’s around 75 – he wasn’t sure exactly.
Away from the game, he’s into cooking – rock-climbing and like top player Ronnie O’Sullivan enjoys his running.
It’s a mountain to climb to reach the top in any sport, but if you believe in yourself, train hard, then the sky is the limit.
SnookerZone wishes Billy well in his career and thanks him for his time talking to us.
Are you an amateur on either the WLBS, WDBS, EASB, or any other amateur tour and would like to tell SnookerZone what you’re up to? Then email info@snookerzone.co.uk.
Read here also if you missed it, SnookerZone’s interview with WLBS ladies player Suzie Opacic
