Once upon a time there was this snooker fan who went to Belfast to catch the Northern Ireland Trophy.
The whole experience happened to take place in Belfast for several reasons, most important of them being the fact that it’s a small city and the tournament is somewhat supposed to be rather more accessible than other events of the same kind.
On a short note, regarding the city itself, Belfast is more or less all right. Now maybe I didn’t get to see the “musts”, but… 80% of the places from which you can buy something, especially food, close at 5 pm. Except for some days when they close at 9 pm.
Belfast is quite small (again, maybe I haven’t seen everything that must be experienced there, but I do believe that’s how it is. I also think the surrounding areas are amazing) and there isn’t much to do there.
From an interpersonal point of view (don’t want to apply labels, but) it seemed that half of people are truly friendly, and do speak a lot, about all sorts of nonsense, in an accent I didn’t get much of. Therefore I was quite eager to shake my head or nod to most questions and if I couldn’t do that, I’d just ask them to repeat what they just said. The other half of people seem quite in a hurry and not much into helping someone.
I’d also like to say though that the Waterfront hall staff is absolutely amazing from all points of view.
Until reaching the main deal, about the snooker, I’d also like to note here a dialogue and a question which repeated themselves over and over again therefore quite a lot, as I’ve been there for more than a week:
1. – Are you working here?
- No, I’m here as a tourist.
- In Belfast??
- Yeah, I’m here to see the snooker.
- No, really???????
- Yes.
- No, really???????
(the person towards someone else)
- Hey, she’s here to see the snooker! :O
(the other person)
- No, really???????? You must be really committed. Lol
2. – Are you all right? (A question everybody asks there over and over again and I’m not used to. LOL It’s a very polite question to ask someone, but, after you hear it for the 121st time you might get the urge to start sharing your problems with everyone, especially if you’re not feeling so good.)
And now, getting to the main subject… Snooker.
When I got back to my country, from Belfast, I actually had no idea on what to say about what I’ve seen and experienced. It’s just like a trip on which you’ve seen so many things, in such a short time, that you either remember just a couple of them, or most of them lose their importance.
The seats have been amazing… They have a great season ticket, at a very good price, available on the Waterfront site, holding access to all the matches.
Until the semifinals I could sit wherever I pleased, even in the first row (amazing view 
) and afterwards I’ve had seating reserved in the 4th row (good view too). At some point I even watched the matches from the rows above the arena, because downstairs you can’t move much so you don’t bother the players. Also… When it was crowded downstairs, the seats became quite uncomfortable. However, from anywhere in the hall you have great views and there are always two imense screens on which you can see what’s going on at table number one (I think. It’s the one in the middle). Screens you cannot possibly ignore, especially when you want to see the general placement of the balls. The weird thing is that you get caught up in that and try to check out the placement when you’re watching the other tables too, obviously with no luck. LOL
The beautiful thing was that, unlike on tv, you can choose what match you want to see. You can actually see two matches at the same time (a thing which is terribly exhausting, especially if two of your favourite players are on two different tables).
Therefore, although I sort of am a Stephen Hendry fan, I got to be one of the few spectators watching the match between Alan McManus and Mark King. I chose to see this match and not the one between Hendry and Lee, nor Mark Allen’s match. I only caught the last session of the Hendry-Lee one.
Emotions and getting pissed off are even stronger than on tv. Been quite mad that Mark King didn’t win, but I would’ve been even madder if I would’ve watched the Hendry-Lee match as I had a good feelin’ Stephen Lee would beat Mr. Hendry and it wouldn’t be nice to watch.
One of my greatest joys was that I could see my personal (and local) favourite, Joe Swail. He started the season on his left foot, but I do believe he’s a player who can do a lot more and find great joy in seeing him smile. Really nice.
The second great joy was, from afar, watching Ronnie. I’m really glad that he won that tournament. He sometimes didn’t play as well as he can, but, for the love of showtime and electricity on the table, I’m really glad. I would’ve been quite satisfied if Dave Harold would’ve taken the cup home too.
On Ronnie… What’s there to say? I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. He’s even more electric than on tv. More sensational (don’t know if that exists, but he is). More careless. And , of course, lots of times he makes everything look like someone from the light weight cathegory is fighting Goliath.
Ronnie runs from fans and fans are always around him. It’s quite tricky, getting close to him, or maybe I just didn’t have enough guts. I just observed him from a distance.
Someone asked me if I actually thought there’d be a red carpet and you couldn’t get close to the players. No way. People just walk around the hall at their own pleasure. Kendo passed by me three times, so did Graeme Dott and even Mr. Hendry, with his chin in his chest.
I’m just sorry I had to get over my emotions, which didn’t happen very fast, so I’d be able to take some pics with the players. They mostly walk around the place and, after every match, they come down to players entrance where they sign cards and take pics with the fans. Except for Ronson, whom, after the thriller match held against Barry Hawkins, decided to go out through another exist, just like Barry. To be honest though, there were more than thirty fans outside waiting for them.
Maguire (whom I like to call Magsimus) and Ronson seemed to be quite unapproachable, but that is, of course, subjective. And Liang Wenbo seemed quite arrogant. As for Matthew Stevens, whom I was delighted to see at last, he just seemed posh, as in the Beckhams sort of posh, but in a very nice way 
. LOL
I also have to admit that there’ve been sessions I’ve missed because the whole thing was just to tiring.
I’ve found Dominic Dale, Mark Selby and Dave Harold to be some of the most approachable and kind players. Dominic Dale is just as you think him to be, a really, really nice guy, sweet and attentive. I was burning to ask about the wine stories, but I couldn’t say much as I was overwhelmed anyway. He was also one of the few players who’ve been at the Waterfront Hall until the end of the tournament, even if they lost on the way.
For the male fans… Michaela Tabb is truly gorgeous and she looks even better than on tv. Her hair also has an extremely nice shade. Bygone.
Jamie Cope is also a truly amazing player, but, like Dave Harold, he makes an unpardonable mistake in the middle of the break. The beautiful he plays, the big the mistakes.
What else, what else? Now that I remember the whole thing, it’s been truly nice, but I have to say, for the thousand and the last time, that it’s been really exhausting.
Oh and one last thing… The Higgins. I thought he’d be more sweet, but I managed to run into an exhausted Higgins, who fought hard against himself to win the match against Ian McCulloch. He seemed quite tired and not in a good shape throughout the whole tournament, yet, of course, wearing the well known Higgins Blue. He’s so cute! Him and his whole family, simply love them! 
And it’s been lovely to watch the two triller matches, trademarked O’Sullivan-Hawkins and O’Sullivan-Carter, from right across the fence. Breathtaking thrillers for all the people present. And maybe I shouldn’t say this, mostly because the two matches shouldn’t've had just one winner, but… Ronnie… Take us home. Black Eagle has landed… Welcome home, BE.
p.s. Mark King is very… Very… Interesting. =)))))) And Joe Swail’s got some lovely eyes.
