Veteran Scotsman Alan McManus has been chatting today about his continued love for the game and his desire to reclaim a place among the elite top 16 players…
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On having to qualify for the Masters, his form and the state of the game at the moment:
“Having to qualify is a different experience for me but it’s not hard to take.
“If you look at the game now it’s so difficult for everyone.
“A good example is Shaun Murphy who is in the top 16 and has played four tournaments but hasn’t won a match.
“That gives you an idea of how strong the sport is. None of Shaun’s defeats has been against top-16 players.
“That’s the way snooker is now. There are big-name players who can’t get a win.
“Probably, aside from O’Sullivan, all the top guys have struggled at some point.
“This is as strong as the game has ever been in my career. The top players aren’t getting any worse, it’s just the others are getting better.
“And it will only continue to get stronger.
“There are just 96 players on the main tour now and if you’re not top notch you won’t get on it. There are no weak performers.
“I firmly believe in the next couple of years I can break back into the elite 16.
“The rankings are so fickle and guys are going up and down like yo-yos.
“A few good tournaments and you’re right back up there so it’s all about confidence.
“I’ll play on for as long as I’m competitive. I enjoyed the summer when I started using a new cue and it has given me a fresh lease of life.
“I’m still enjoying the game and I’m in the club every day practising so I’m determined to keep going.”
On his new DVD:
“There have always been snooker coaches but it has been an underlying thing within the game, you never hear of them in public.
“Punters only see snooker on TV and the guys make it look easy don’t they?
“It’s 100 times harder than it looks and the sport is based around a technique.
“Without that basic technique you simply can’t play it to any great standard.
“Hopefully the DVD will teach people that. I’ve always been considered a technical player because that was drummed into me as a kid.
“It’s about teaching people the good habits. I’m coaching a wee guy now and he’s a bit raw.
“If he listens he will improve but if he doesn’t he won’t. You have to work at the game, it doesn’t happen overnight.”
It is good to hear that Alan is still enjoying the game, indeed at his peak he was an excellent player, reaching no fewer than 26 ranking event semi-finals during his career. He started off very well this season with a great run in Northern Ireland, but just recently his form hasn’t been quite as strong, leaving him with a lot of work to do if he wants to get in the top 32 again, never mind the top 16.
Still though, at 37 he is young enough to do better than he is and if he can recapture his very best form, will be hard for anyone to beat. Hopefully his new cue can really inspire him and see this happen.
To buy his new DVD (Alan McManus & Jimmy White’s Absolute Snooker), please visit Amazon.co.uk here.