M.I. Welcome to Mansión Inglés. El Tel is here today to talk to us about the game of snooker. So Tel, can you explain briefly how the game is played?

E.T. The game is played on a table about four times the size of a pool table. There are twenty-two balls involved in the game. Fifteen are red, six colours, and one cue ball. The cue ball is the ball that you strike to hit the other balls.

M.I. That ball is white, isn’t it Terry?

E.T. That ball is white, yes. The colours, if you want me to name them are yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black. Rising from two points up to seven.

M.I. Okay. And how long does a snooker game normally last, more or less?

E.T. Well, when I play about five minutes because I’m very good.

M.I. I see. And tell us about the angles involved, because it’s quite difficult isn’t it?

E.T. It takes a lot of training or experience to assess the use of angles at the game. It is very very complicated.

M.I. Why do you enjoy the game Tel?

E.T. Because I’m good at it.

M.I. I see. Do you think it’s a good spectator sport, or is it quite boring to watch on television?

E.T. I can be boring if you’ve got…if you’re watching the wrong players. If you’re watching people like Alex Higgins, Jimmy White. Very very very entertaining.

M.I. You’ve won many competitions Tel, do you think it’s a stressful game?

E.T. For me, personally, no.

M.I. And what’s the difference between snooker and the pub games we see, for example pool or billiards?

E.T. Snooker, because of the amount of balls involved in the game, you must pot a red ball first, and then you can pot a coloured ball. And in between each colour you must pot a red.

M.I. I see, and erm … do you miss playing the game Tel?

E.T. At this stage in my life, no.

M.I. Well, thank you very much, and thank you for your time.

         Glossary 

cue ball = la blanca
to strike = golpear
angles = ángulos
assess = calcular
to pot a ball = meter la bola