Mike Russell is firm favourite

Dwayne Williams

For over a decade now, the world billiards stage, professional that is, has virtually been the domain of just two players -- England's Mike Russell and India's pride Geet Sethi. Another Englishman was the odd man in, should we say, in 1994 as the two Titans evenly shared eight out of nine titles. So close has been the battle between the two that even the No. 1 ranking changed hands frequently till Russell broke free over the last couple of years and now has himself firmly entrenched at the top.

However, come Wednesday the two get down to yet another battle, in a bid to go one up on the other in terms of number of titles won, when the Mega Ace World professional billiards championships gets under way at the C.K. Nayudu hall of the Cricket Club of India.

Needless to say, Russell starts off as the firm favourite. He is not only the defending champion but also the world No. 1 and has stretched his lead over his arch rival to a whopping 72 points. Moreover, he has won more than 60 per cent of the ranking tournaments held this year and is said to be in peak form.

Russell is not unknown in this part of the world. He is a classy cueist, a master of the very effective Floating White technique. It is his immense concentration and terrific control that makes him awesome at the table. His ability to gather the balls at the top of the table and keep them there till the baulk-line crossing warning is given is amazing. But more amazing his his ability -- call it artistry -- to get right back into position at the top after going down into baulk.

Indeed, the 32-year-old Petersborough pro is in a different class. He certainly looks good enough, barring any hiccup to add to this one to the titles won in 1990, '91, '96 and '98.

But Sethi is said to have once again found the appetite of old which fetched him titles in 1992, '93, '95 and '98. He is reported to have begun practising in earnest of the last few weeks, putting in four to five hours of work daily.

"Yes, I have been practising hard. I am definitely going to give it my best shot," said Sethi while leaving the CCI for a practice session with compatriot Nalin Patel at the Bombay Gymkhana on Tuesday evening.

Sethi, as billiards fans know, is no less talented. If he indeed gives it his best shot, then he could be right there, challenging Russell or other players from the tough top-half of the draw on Easter Sunday.

But this tournament is certainly not going to be all about just Russell and Sethi. True, that is a clash all billiards fans would be awaiting. But there are the likes of England's world No. 5 Chris Shutt, also immensely talented; home town favourites Ashok Shandilya and Devendra Joshi, both qualifiers from the Indian tournament, and a host of others waiting for a chance to upset the applecart of these two great players and have a shot at the winner's purse of 12,000 pounds.

Also, one cannot write off former World champion Peter Gilchrist nor Australian Robbie Foldvari, Roxton Chapman and David Causier. All these players do have big match temperament and are capable of beating the best on their day.

The first round matches will be played over two hours with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final to be played over four hours (two two-hour sessions).