World Championships 2019 SNOOKER SURVIVAL Edition Your snooker health guide accident. (So, risk-taking is more er, risky, than Once upon a time, snooker was played through you might think.) Mark Selby, the champion in a haze of cigarette smoke and alcohol. Not any 2017, is 9-1 - that’s the same odds as on a UK more. Today’s players are fit and sharp and male getting diabetes. if you’re tuning into the marathon that is the World Professional Snooker Championship, You see where we’re going with this? You might you need to be fit and sharp too. The Men’s like a bet but don’t gamble on your health. It’s Health Forum have teamed up with the World not just you who loses - your family and friends Professional Billiards and Snooker Association do too. Follow the tips in this survival guide. (WPSBA) to provide this essential survival guide. By the way, what about So lets get the ball rolling… Shaun Murphy at 50-1 for a topical punt? Reputed to Don’t get snookered have the straightest cue What do you think of the odds of 4-1? Would action in the game, his you take a punt on that? For this fellow pros call him ‘the year’s world championship prime minister’. No, this only Ronnie O’Sullivan (5-2) isn’t because he’s always is priced shorter than this. asking for an extension A whole host of other top but because he’s head of the former finalists are priced players’ commission. ‘Snooker far longer: Judd Trump helped me (5-1), Neil Robertson (6-1) It’s good to chalk to get over and John Higgins (18-1). Snooker is good for your health. Afghanistan’ Why 4-1? Because those are Really? Cue laughter. If you don’t the odds of the average man believe us, listen to health researcher Rohit dying before the age of 65. In other words, Sagoo, right, from Anglia Ruskin University who you’re more likely to die before you retire than says playing it can boost wellbeing and self- anyone bar Ronnie is likely to win this year’s confidence: ‘There was an idea among World Championship. If that makes you think, some people I interviewed that you’ve come to the right place because poor mental health might be a snooker is a sport that makes you barrier to playing snooker. In ‘Snooker think. fact my research showed the lets you Reigning champion Mark Williams opposite. Snooker assists with understand is 20-1. Those are the same as the overcoming mental health risk’ odds on Portugal winning football’s issues by individuals actually Euro 2016 - which they did - and also participating actively in the the same as the odds on you dying in an sport. I spoke to one British soldier, who said he wouldn’t MEN’S HEALTH FORUM – SNOOKER SURVIVAL GUIDE ‘Snooker is have got over the trauma of like chess but The long game Afghanistan without snooker.’ with more The top players today like Ronnie O’Sullivan So how can snooker help you? walking’ and Judd Trump will workout at the gym to improve their physical and mental endurance ● Suits all ages - a 90 year old at the table. Rohit reckons exercise plus good can play a nine year old. nutrition is what enables a player like O’Sullivan ● Beginners can play - anyone can pick up a to keep concentrating at an age when previous cue and as progress initially is quite quick, generations of players have started to lose there’s an immediate sense of achievement. focus in the longer games. These days, age is no object. Last year’s finalists John Higgins ● It’s mindful - being on your own in the and Mark Williams were 42 and 43 spotlight of a lighted table in a darkened room respectively. By contrast, Stephen takes you away from your problems and helps ‘Age is no Hendry won the last of his seven you focus on the game. object in world championships - the most in snooker’ ● You need to think - Rohit compares snooker the modern era - at the age of 30, to chess. You’re trying to outmanoeuvre your Steve Davis, the last of his six at 31. opponent. You need to plan ahead (where are you going to try to put the white ball?), count Other players who take a keen interest in their and add and calculate angles and relative fitness include Kyren Wilson, whose brother is speeds while still finding the mental discipline a personal trainer, and Michael Holt who is a to concentrate 100% on the specific shot qualified fitness instructor himself. Holt says: you’re playing. it’s all about personal preference. I lift weights because that’s what I enjoy. I have tried running ● You’re in charge - snooker is one of the rare but I didn’t enjoy it. But I believe that being in games where you can truly play at your own good shape will help anyone and give them more pace. confidence in everything they do. ● Sociable (but not in a way that feels The best player in the world is pressured) - when you’re not at the table, you Ronnie O’Sullivan and he’s can chat (or not) to the other players. Perhaps also one of the fittest – have a drink. Even step out for some fresh air. that’s not coincidence.’ ● You’re unlikely to get injured - a good thing to avoid in any sport (but be careful you don’t Pot belly get your hand stuck in a pocket - a number of Who said this: ’When it fire brigades have attended such calls!) comes to snooker, I should be on the way down by now, One research participant told Rohit: ‘Snooker but here I am in my 40’s still helps to develop a host of mental skills and competing at the top of the game traits that are used in everyday life, such as and fitter than ever.’ concentration, the ability to calculate risk and the importance of being patient’. Another mentioned It was Ronnie O’Sullivan, who problem-solving skills that could be transferred regained the world number one RONNIE: to the work environment. spot in 2019 at the age of 43. He ‘What you eat was promoting his latest book. True, snooker is never going to be the most keeps you Not an autobiography but 80 young’ athletic sport in the world but it still has physical recipes. Yes, you read that right. health benefits. The WPBSA reckon the average Recipes. player walks around 3,000 steps in one hour solo snooker practice Ronnie nails diet like a table-length pot that - well on the way to your doesn’t touch the sides: ‘I truly believe what you daily target of 10,000. The eat keeps you young. There are kids half my age stretching and bending also competing and they can’t concentrate because helps keep you supple as they eat rubbish and never put down their you get older. phones! It’s all about eating great food, pacing yourself, recuperating and knowing your mental Words © Jim Pollard, Men’s Health Forum 2019 Images © WPSBA and others under Creative Commons (menshealthforum.org.uk/snooker) RED YELLOW GREEN BROWN BLUE PINK BLACK health is just as important as your physical carrots, for example, converts to vitamin health. The biggest gains are made when you A). There’s potassium, vitamin C and some fuel yourself well, exercise regularly and you lycopene too. Good for the prostate and rest – thinking this way has changed my life.’ cholesterol. Ronnie, who has struggled with drink, drugs and ● Green - limes, kiwis, spinach and asparagus depression, should know. get their colour from chlorophyll but also The legendary Alex have carotenes and vitamins to reduce cancer ‘Hurricane’ Higgins, the so- risk. Remember green tea too - infused with called People’s Champion antioxidants. who did as much as ● Brown - the brown/white family of fruit and anyone to popularise the veg includes garlic (lots of the antioxidant game, was notorious for allicin) and mushrooms (fibre, B vitamins), heavy smoking, drinking bananas (potassium) and onions (antioxidants and drug-use and died aged again). Potatoes including chips (!) don’t count. just 61. You wonder how the ● player described by Steve Davis as Blue - from blueberries to beetroot, these get snooker’s ‘one true genius’ might have fared with their colour from anthocyanin which again has just a slightly healthier life-style. Surely he’d have antioxidant properties. picked up more than two world titles? ● Pink - er, well, some of the yellow and red families qualify here. Pink grapefruit - like all Clear the colours grapefruit - has many health benefits (though You’ll know the old joke: A man walks into the watch out as it can interfere with certain meds) doctor’s complaining of stomach ache. but let’s go with a fish instead: salmon (high in ‘What do you eat?’ asks the doc. omega 3s). ‘Snooker balls,’ he replies. ● Black - blackcurrants (up there with the more ‘Snooker balls?’ trendy goji and acai berries in nutrients and ‘Yes. The black and white for breakfast, the reds antioxidants), blackberries and everybody’s for lunch and pink and blue for dinner.’ favourite emoji, the aubergine - similar The doctor nods. ‘Well, I can see your problem. benefits to the blue family. Not enough greens.’ In snooker you pot red, black, red, ‘Take a walk. In fact, all the colours in snooker can help you black, red, black - in theory, anyway Too much remember the variety of fruit and veg available - but when it comes to your diet, pot sitting is bad when choosing your five a day and why they’re the full variety of colours.