Brothers hope for baize of glory

TWO young Southside brothers
are hoping to make Ireland proud by taking part in this year’s World Billiards
Championship.

Wayne Doyle (20) and his
brother Ross (14) from Dun Laoghaire have been training for up to five hours a
day to better their chances at winning the championship.

Ross will be the youngest
ever player to represent Ireland in the tournament.

The youngster told Southside
People how he has been training hard since the age of nine.

“I’ve always had an interest
in billiards,

? he said.

“My dad plays it as a hobby and that’s where the
influence came from.

?

Although Ross is playing
against six professional men and his older brother, he is not that nervous.

“I’m looking forward to it
and I hope I can do Ireland proud,” he said.

In a possible twist, if both
brothers succeed at passing the first round of games, they could go
head-to-head to battle it out for the prestigious title.

Ross’s proud mother, Esma
Doyle, said it wouldn’t be the first time the brothers have faced off against
each other.

“They’ve competed in the
past and they’re both very competitive,

? she revealed.

“They’ve been training hard
over the past couple of months, and Ross has been playing in a lot of other
billiard events throughout Dublin and England.

“But thanks to the Dublin
Snooker and Billiards Leagues and George Davis of The Sallynoggin Inn, who has
helped with sponsorship, they are well prepared.

?

In the first week, the
brothers will have to notch up enough points to make it through to the second
round.

“The second round involves
matches that can go on for up to three hours,

? Esma said.

“Ross won the under-19
Billiards Championship in June this year, so he is all set to go.

?

The winning prize at the end
of this year’s competition will be an estimated e10,000.

The chairman of the
Billiards Championship, Jim Leacy, said Ross and Wayne Doyle have made it into
the championship round due to their incredible abilities and talents.

He said the two brothers
will be playing against well-experienced men who have been involved in the
sport for years.

“Ross and Wayne demonstrated
great ability in the Junior Billiards Championship in June,

? he said.

“Ross has
tough competition ahead of him but he’ll give it his best shot.

?

The World Billiards
Championship will take place in the The Ivy Rooms in Carlow until September 2.

The event will see players
from 20 countries, some from as far as Australia and New Zealand, descending on
Carlow for 10 days to battle it out to win the title.

Up to 60 players are
expected to attend, along with referees and supporters.