Billiards in Tajlande: all for the blessing of the tourist (№1 (19) from March, 25th, 2009)

I will risk to assert (though it only my subjective opinion) that Thai billiards is the reduced copy an - глийского. The person as at it is not present that. Play here in the same sa - мые billiards kinds, as in England, namely – in a pool and in снукер. Clubs are created by principles angly - ских, with similar menus and drinks. And the majority of owners of similar institutions – natives of England, moved more close to heat and the sun.

Really, British community in Thailand is great. And not to do nothing on a new place, visitors arrange small business in which frameworks the billiard club is entered simply ideally. Moreover, some specially go here with intention to open own institution – the blessing, the general expenses turn out in times less, than would be in the homeland. The basic contingent of billiard rooms is made also by English-speaking European public – the reach for the. And Thais are mainly occupied in service sphere – collect spheres, submit кии, carry orders.

Billiard clubs – the important component of tourist branch of Thailand. Emigrants and tourists are not too anxious by professional achievements, they play as a hobby. Therefore Thailand cannot brag of especially well-known billiard-players. It at all does not mean that anybody from local residents is not able to have control over кий. Some play very much even decently and in scales of Asia are renowned. But before, to begin to shine on a world scene, Thais strongly do not hold out. For an example: in the World championship on a pool where Tajpej, Philippines, Japan and иже with them usually expose powerful artillery from five-ten sportsmen, Thailand appears the most modest Asian delegation with one, a maximum two players.

Is, the truth, and a happy exception. The most well-known and deserved Thai billiard-player – James Vattana. It has become famous on a field снукера.

James Vattana (a real name – Vattana Pu-about-orm) was born in Bangkok on January, 17th, 1970. The first tournament «Camus Thailand Masters» has won Vattana at the age of 16 years. In three years, in 1989, he you - went as the professional. His career peak has had on the middle 90 when Vattana won on tournament «Thailand Open» twice and has risen in a universal rating to 3rd position. It was the first similar success of the Asian in professional снукере. Then other achievements have followed. The sportsman also reached World championship semi-finals on снукеру twice. By past year James Vattany's career earnings have made 1,75 million pounds sterling. Its nickname Thai-Phoon does not require comments. Successes in снукере have made Vattanu of one of the most popular sports persons of Thailand. It has received the award of the Thai crown of the third class (to it for all history of such honour one sportsman has received only) and has been noted by special favour of the king of the country which periodically observed for its game - ми. Alas, other such successful billiard-player for today in Thailand is not present.

Are spent in the country and the large tournaments, however number of visitors of participants here obviously outweighs. Foreigners often take the first places and take the main prizes. Large local tournament on снукеру is called «Thailand Open». Apparently from a word «Open», competition this opened, initially calculated on representatives of the different countries. And the most known tournament on a pool remains «Thailand Masters». Last time it was won by Kevin Juzzell. In other words – the Englishman, as was to be shown.

But we will return to amateur billiards. Clubs are concentrated in the places most visited by tourists. The capital of the country concerns their number the city of Bangkok first of all. Such well-known resorts, as Pattaja u1080 and Phuket further follow. But there is a billiards and on the islands kept away from the basic territory like To Samui.

And now, actually, we will walk on concrete billiard institutions of Thailand. In Bangkok they are respectable enough: conditions are thought over, tables are qualitative, the personnel is schooled. To have clubs try more close to branches «Sky Train» – well-known land me - тро. Among the most well-known institutions of a city I will name «Ball in Hand» and «Sports Academy».

As to places it is less, and there owners of clubs approach to business with all gravity. From the personal experience I can tell that on the kid-island To Tao from its several tens thousand inhabitants and the extremely modest infrastructure of billiard tables the sea. There are they in every third bar. And the biggest local club «Captain Nemo» can handicap many European. The immigrant owns it, certainly. However, not the Englishman, and the Frenchman. Such obra - зом, summarising the above-stated, I will tell: where in Thailand a civilisation, there and billiards.

For work in clubs owners try to type young Thai girls as it oh as involves clients! Minutes of leisure маркерши practise on free tables and, together with girl-friends of the foreigners accompanying those during rest, make the basic female contingent of billiard rooms.

The average price in an hour of game per clubs of Bangkok makes 200–250 бат. On islands this price will be same or less – depending on attendance of a place. Quotations during the day especially do not change and frequently remain identical morning and in the evening. As to снукера then it is possible to get off with smaller blood. In Bangkok decent enough places where hour of game manages to visitors of all in 80 бат are known.

For the inquiry I will inform that бат is the local currency which course in relation to dollar often enough changes. For a moment, when I was in the country, the given parity made 1/33.

However a payment for using a table – it is far not unique expenditure on which it is necessary to go to visitors of Thai clubs. In some of them there is a rule according to which during game the client is obliged to buy spirits. Well, at least beer. And the price sometimes reaches it 100–140 бат for a glass. Considering that the personnel especially jealously concerns tip, the round sum runs. From here one more conclusion: billiards in Thailand entertainment not from the cheap.

Though where one lose, there others find. The system of discounts is connected with the same beer in separate clubs – the client receives hour of free game for 6 glasses. Well and, of course, friendly tournaments for visitors who are regularly spent practically in any institution respecting, add to billiard leisure of appeal.

With Russian billiards and with karambo - лем in Thailand hardly if not to tell in general in any way. Considering number of Russian tourists which simply flock here all year long, local it is necessary to reflect on creation of club with tables for "Pyramid". But while it is in this respect empty. As they say, we will wait.

Julia Petrov