Know better... Kike Banyuls

Today we have the opportunity to interview the Valencian pool player  Kike Banyuls. His 17 years and his brash left us amazed. The younger generation are pushing hard :-)

How long is your passion for the pool?

My pool hobby comes from when I was 12 (now 17). My father took me to one day play for the club night in Gandía pool (8-ball), and I know not nor could not give the white ball. I really liked the roll and decided to keep playing pool, and because when I heard they had competitions, I liked more because I love the competition. I started training with a man who could play a lot more than me ... Before, I played football since age 7, but left to enter the world of pool
   

What are you most passionate about this sport?

I'm passionate about the amount of moves you can do in any shot. But certainly what I love about this sport is the racing world, get together to compete with people who practice the same sport as you, is it more, you learn many things

What are the modalities you practice?

More than anything I practice ball 10, as it is a very complete game and very accurately, because the slightest flaw can lose a game. I also practice Ball 8 and 14.1. Besides I also do technical exercises

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

Universal game and am very happy with my cue, so for now I want to change not because I am very adapted to it

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

Game about 12 hours a week, is quite another, if workouts are quality and 100% concentration, yes that is enough to improve the level of play

What club do you play normally? Do you think that is well suited for the practice of pool?

Training in the "CAR" Infanta Cristina of Los Alcazares (Murcia). Yes, is perfectly equipped to train and organize tournaments. The site has four small tables with loopholes Buffalo. On weekends I practice in the place where I started playing 12 years in Gandia (8 Ball)

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

Clubs should make offers to people who are interested in learning and have time to practice ... and that over time all bearing fruit, ie, climb the fans motivating the players, and make qualifying organize tournaments for beginners

What was your best game or tournament?

My best championship was last season in the Championship of Spain Absolutes in Padron. I played the two absolutes but I was fine and then I played the 2ºB CEP 7 feet where we were 114 players and was champion. I had to win 9 games to stay champion and wear was very strong for me, both physically and mentally, but it was worth

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

Trust is the key in both the pool and in other sports, if I have to have confidence in myself, but it is also true that there are moments of doubt, do not know whether to defend or attack ... I do not know whether to put the white ball 1 band or 2 bands ... especially in the more pressure there, but when I go to shoot if I have confidence in myself, because if I have not, never leaves

Have you had the opportunity to compete outside Spain?

The opportunity I have had since I was very close to qualify, but I would love to represent Spain in a European or World. All in good time

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

I look at many international players, all professionals are good to see, as they are able to get you any ball and do something very difficult ... but especially I see Tony Drago, I love the speed of his shots and has confidence that he same for any stroke
   

Tell us a story that happened to you playing pool

Anecdotes are many .. see people decentralizing the opponent to fail while pulling, see people join a game more, see people catching a ball in hand when it is over and think he is the leading reason. In so many things that you see people who do not like the pool, but likes to win and disgust the wonderful world of pool

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

Right now the health of the sport is ver bad

Why do you think that is down to the players participation in national tournaments?

It is clear that the issue of money, the pool is an expensive sport and need of free time to train and weekends to compete. For that very reason it has dropped the number of participants in the championships

Where do you think can be the solution?

From my point of view the solution is in the sponsors, the pool has very few sponsors and few turns in it

Why do you think that in Spain the pool is not a very attractive sport for the media?

Pool is a minority sport, so I think there is no media. Also in Spain almost all means this dumps football, basketball, handball besides the pool ..... well not see many sports such as archery, taekwondo, wrestling ... and besides these are Olympic

What would you say to young people like you for who was encouraged to practice?

The world of pool is great, always learn new things, travel a lot to play tournaments, and yes, meet wonderful people treat you very well. Worth the sport, I encourage you to try

Is there anything you would like to add ..

To thank all the people who support me every day, my family without them I would not play pool, all the people who practice pool and all creators and followers of Poolmania