CHENNAI:Holding an imaginary cue stick in one hand, while having an animated conversation with a colleague, Manan Chandra is in his comfort zone – being surrounded by billiards tables.
However, as he reveals later in an exclusive chat with Express, his marriage with the sport was entirely by accident. “It was a complete accident,” he says. “I was about 13 at the time and holidaying in Nainital with my father, completely oblivious to the sport. It was during my time there that I first chanced upon a snooker parlour. I played a couple of frames and by the time I left the place I was completely hooked to it.”
But the 33-year-old, who was recently in Chennai to partake in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TPL) – an inaugural IPL-style league that he hopes will take off in a big way – had no idea that the sport would become his means to earn bread. Not until 1997 anyway. “I had just won the national junior title as a debutant. And I thought I could do this as a career. I did have the potential, so why not?”
Winning the juniors is one thing but taking it into the big league is an entirely different proposition and the New Delhi-based player quickly realised the task. “I knew I had the potential but it wasn’t until 2006 that I finally won the senior titles. I had to wait many years but it was worth it as I defeated Pankaj Advani in the final.”
Manan is another Indian to have experienced what it is like to play the sport in UK after he turned professional – a move which lasted only a year – in 2002. “It’s a very different atmosphere. You have to be based there and so on,” he reveals. He is receptive to the idea of going back but says it would be a big challenge. “I would love to go back but with a family and small daughter it’s not easy. I might if I get a chance but it would be a big task.”
Speaking of his family, Manan is married to former national champion Anuja Thakur. “It’s a big help to be married to be somebody who understands you and the environment you are involved in. We also help each other out with our games so it’s incredibly useful,” he points out.
Manan, who has won myriad pool titles and has been on the Asian Nine Ball Tour, has often been accused of swinging from the sublime to the ridiculous at the drop of hat. Something he alludes to when he says, ‘I have just won two senior national snooker titles.’
Does he plan on correcting that wrong? “I hope so.”