Know better... Daniel Fonseca

“I would like to introduce better. My name is Daniel Fonseca, born in Lisbon, I have 18 years and am a huge fan of pool. I play modalities Ball 8.9 and 10, but my favorite is, undoubtedly, Ball 9”. It is said, better to present it than we do ourselves. This is the interview we had with him :-)

How long is your passion for the pool?

Since about a year ago. I used to play in cafes and bars, but a year ago I started doing it in a more competitive.

What are you most passionate about this sport?

I love everything that surrounds the world of pool. I think it is a very simple sport, which only compounded by the very nature of human beings. I also like the fact that there have to be a good physical to compete well.

I've always played Ball 8, but now I'm practicing more Ball 9 and 10 (for about 3 months). If I had to choose by one, I'd pick 9 Ball.

What cue Brand do you usually play? What do you change to another?

I currently play with a cue Mezz and tip Kamui, and I'm pretty satisfied. I also use a glove Longoni and chalks Predator. At this point I am satisfied with the material I have, and I don´t feel the need to switch to other brands.

How often do you play each week? Do you think it is enough to improve your game?

I Play every day and I train about 24 hours a week. When more training is on the weekends. I think I could train much longer, but I think two hours is enough. If you train too long, instead of learning can unlearn, because the body gets tired and does not perform well.

What club do you play normally? Do you think that is well conditioned to play pool?

Currently not train at any club or play in any team, but I am perfectly prepared to play at a good level in an amateur team.

What do you think should make pool clubs to attract more players?

Speaking only from Portugal, I think the main problem is the lack of training and schools to train the players. Portugal has great clubs and numerous cafes with pool tables, but the big problem is the lack of trained educators in pool. If there is an increased interest in the training of young players, we would certainly appear much more competitive and attract better players than others.

What was your best game or tournament?

My best game was undoubtedly the first of a tournament in which I fought against a player who to me was a "monster" at the time, because I knew he had gone to Las Vegas to play the VNEA. As I was very "green" in the world of pool I thought I had no chance of winning.

We started the game and got ahead 3-0. In the fourth game I made the fatal mistake of leaving ball in hand to my opponent who pulled one back to 3-1 and it didn´t stop. I was very inexperienced as I began to get very nervous, so he took my opponent to finish winning by 5-3.

At the end of the game, my opponent said me I had goog qualities for the pool, that if I trained harder could become a great player. And that's how I started my journey in the pool. Since then I have received positive feedback you have given me much strength to continue.

Have you always had confidence in your game, or on the contrary, you have come moments of doubt?

I've always had confidence in my type of game and my limits. I think there have been times when I had doubts in a particular situation, but I've always had confidence in myself and I believe that the key to success in the pool. Every ball, every situation, you must always be aware of what we do, focused and confident first. Nor should we rely so much on luck. Luck appears when played well!

Have you had the opportunity to compete outside Portugal?

Unfortunately not. I would be very happy to do it someday, and I'm sure my chance will come.

What is the player that you look to try to improve your game?

There are so many players I have seen playing predilection. I follow Efren, Shane Van Boening, Earl Strickland, Ronnie Alcano, Tony Drago, Appleton and others. But the player who will undoubtedly fascinates me and inspires me to play and improve my game is Shane Van Boening. I think it's a player that I would look like in terms of playing style, simplicity and humility.

Tell us a story tha happened to you playing pool

I have had many amusing anecdotes and not so funny. One that I keep to remember was in a game with my brother. Now it's funny, but at the time ... Off the table have a good relationship, but what is competing things change. The tension was high and quite rivalry, even at some point to provocation ... Things happen. After playing we laugh at what happened, and at home everything was back to normal.

Will is my brother and my eternal rival in a pool table. I think I always will be. ?

How do you see the health of the sport in Portugal now?

Portugal has innovated tournaments. Not bad, but could do much more. Unfortunately the little Portuguese Government supports the sport .. I say this because I know if the player Henrique Correia has gone to the European Amateur Championship 9-Ball, just because it won the Portuguese League sponsorship Pool, because the state did not support him to represent our country. He himself said that he would not most European tournaments because state sponsorship does not provide sufficient funds to play.

What would you say to young people like you to be encouraged to practice?

To encourage them, just tell them that you never surrender or desist from the pool, whether they like to practice it as a hobby or as a way of life (although it is very difficult in Portugal). Like anything else in life, you must always practice and persist in the game, and never surrender.

Thank you very much Daniel for the time you have spent for this interview :-)