WDuring the first week of the Snooker World Championships in Sheffield, the world of experience in the Crucible Theater is cut in half by a high partition. In both, the billiard cracks not only share the gaming table, but also a seating area for the passive phases. Direct competitors sit close together between frames (games) while drinking water and tea or cleaning their cues.
Two martial artists would hardly endure so much physical closeness, but the billiard professionals tick differently. That was proven again on Friday evening when the experienced Welshman Mark Williams and the young Belgian Luca Brecel spontaneously fell into short dialogues in their round of 16. “Good frame,” said the 48-year-old Williams when his colleague, who was 20 years his junior, sat down next to him after a successful shift. He replied: “Thank you very much.”
