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A Lifetime on the Billiard Table
An interview with Charlie Deguara |
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Introducing Charlie
If you have ever attended a Billiards or Snooker competition in Sydney you have seen the face in the crowd. The intense little man who watches every shot in every session, who occasionally scoffs and who is first out of his seat to offer congratulations to the winner and commiserate with the loser.
His name is Charlie Deguara and his story seems unlikely in this modern day, but take some time to talk to him. You will be rewarded with extraordinary tales of heroics on the Billiards table. His first love is Billiards and he had never seen Snooker balls until coming to Australia from Malta.
Charlie dates back to a time before the " Snooker Boom" of the 1970's to a time when there was no such thing as being able to make a living as a pro or semi-pro in cue sports in Australia. Charlie is the last of the hustlers, that elite band of hard men who made their living on their wits and on their ability to rise to the occasion when the money went into the corner pocket.
He knows everyone who ever wielded a cue at a high level and he has coached many of them. He has seen the game move from dingy smoke-filled halls to the Alexandra Palace. While he has a respect for the old time players of his era he acknowledges that today's players are beyond comparison. " No one from Australia in my time would come close to Bolton or Robertson".
If you have ever attended a Billiards or Snooker competition in Sydney you have seen the face in the crowd. The intense little man who watches every shot in every session, who occasionally scoffs and who is first out of his seat to offer congratulations to the winner and commiserate with the loser.
His name is Charlie Deguara and his story seems unlikely in this modern day, but take some time to talk to him. You will be rewarded with extraordinary tales of heroics on the Billiards table. His first love is Billiards and he had never seen Snooker balls until coming to Australia from Malta.
Charlie dates back to a time before the " Snooker Boom" of the 1970's to a time when there was no such thing as being able to make a living as a pro or semi-pro in cue sports in Australia. Charlie is the last of the hustlers, that elite band of hard men who made their living on their wits and on their ability to rise to the occasion when the money went into the corner pocket.
He knows everyone who ever wielded a cue at a high level and he has coached many of them. He has seen the game move from dingy smoke-filled halls to the Alexandra Palace. While he has a respect for the old time players of his era he acknowledges that today's players are beyond comparison. " No one from Australia in my time would come close to Bolton or Robertson".
Billiards Australia: When and where were you born?
Charlie: In Malta in the village of Paola on 25/10/1933. I never attended a day of school in my life.
Billiards Australia: At what age did you start playing billiards.
Charlie: When I was 12 years old. Paola had one Billiards table and I was always on it, no one else could get a turn. I made my first 200 break when I was 15
Billiards Australia: When did you come to Australia
Charlie: in 1950 when I was 17. I could not speak a word of English and could neither read nor write. Even today I can read a little in English but not so good on the writing. My father told me if anyone asks you something just say " yes" . This got me into a bit of trouble.
When I was just off the boat someone told me where the Billiards tables were so I went into the city to the Metropolitan Club...a whole room full of tables. I could not believe what I was seeing; they are playing Snooker and I have not seen this before.
I sat and watched and some guy came up and said something to me, I just say " yes" then he pulls a cue out of the rack hands it to me and puts a pound note in the corner pocket. He signals that I too should put a pound in the pocket. I don't know what is going on. We play, I don't know a thing about Snooker and at the end he takes both pound notes and puts them in his pocket and walks off. I don't even know what just happened, I just say yes.
I watch for a while and then come back a week later with my brother who has some English. I have seen the Snooker for a bit now and start to understand what is happening so we start to bet. We win everything, we clean up, easy money. In 7 out of 9 frames I clear the table...then no one wants to play me any more.
Billiards Australia: What was the most you ever won in a match?
Charlie: Maybe $4000 or $5000. It was always the side bets that made the most. Maybe you play the opponent for $500 or even in pounds back then. But all his mates want to bet on him too because they think he is a great player in their area and they don't know me. I take them all on $200 here another $300 from someone else and I take all their money. Easy.
Billiards Australia: So did you get a job when you came to Sydney.
Charlie: I never worked one day in my life, not one, I am a little ashamed to say that, but I am proud to say that I have also never spent one day on the dole. Always lived on my skills.
I was always a money player, not a tournament player. Money comes out I grow an extra leg and I never know what pressure is because even at age 12 I am playing for money. If I don't win I don't eat and that is how I grew up so pressure means nothing to me. It has always been there.
Billiards Australia: Who was the best player you ever played against?
Charlie: At Snooker Norman Squires, he was like me, a money player at Tattersall's Club. He died on the table there. Also Warren Simpson and Alan Macdonald. Later maybe Warren King and John Campbell. I played Eddie Charlton as well but did not enjoy it.
At billiards Bob Marshall was great but I am not playing tournament Billiards so I while I love Billiards first I can make more money at Snooker. Toughest guys I ever played against at Billiards were Les Manglesdorf and Jim Collins.
Marshall was the greatest of that era, but Bolton is better.
Billiards Australia: Did you ever see Walter Lindrum play?
Charlie: Yes I go into his room and see this guy practising on the far table and the lady says it is Walter Lindrum. She asks if I want to play by myself or do I want to pick out balls for Lindrum. I say I will spot balls for Lindrum, but I never once in an hour have to touch the balls. He makes no pots or in-offs, just tap tap tap. There can never be anyone else like Lindrum.
Billiards Australia: So who taught you to play?
Charlie: No one I teach myself. There is no one good in my village and I cannot read so no books or nothing. I just spend time experimenting, learning new ways, always working on it. These days they can look on a computer ; we had none of that.
Billiards Australia: So you went from money matches to coaching?
Charlie: I retired at 52 from money games and already I am having people say to me, "help me Charlie" so I start to take on some guys who want to learn more.
Billiards Australia: I understand you are very selective on who you take on. In fact there is a story going around that a young player approached you asking for coaching and you asked if he was any good. He replied that he was very good and that you asked him to demonstrate by potting a ball off the centre spot from the baulk line and following it in to the top pocket, ten times. He potted all ten balls and followed in with the cue ball nine times, rattling the last one. What happened then?
Charlie: I told him I would not take him on as he was not good enough. I give him his money back.
Billiards Australia: 9 out of 10 is not good enough?
Charlie: No its not good enough, but also the kid was full of himself and I decided early he thinks he is too good already so he is not going to listen to me. Just a waste of my time, so I say no.
Billiards Australia: So who were your best students?
Charlie: There have been so many, but the best are maybe Vinnie and Chris Calabrese. Adam Waller was a very hard worker and learned lots. Tyson Crinis had real ability and of course Joe Minici, but maybe Joe does not want to be mentioned.
When I am coaching you, you are in my head all week I am not thinking about anything else just how to make you better. When I was coaching I was coaching 14 hours a day. So when I say I have not worked a day in my life I have been working non-stop for 27 years. I just don't call this work.
Billiards Australia: Did you prefer playing or coaching?
Charlie: Coaching. It gives more to the game.
Billiards Australia: Best billiards player of the Modern era?
Charlie: Mike Russell. He is always the best, best touch, best control.
Billiards Australia: What advice would you give to aspiring Billiards players?
Charlie: Everyone needs a coach, you have to work hard too but you cannot learn everything yourself, and maybe a sponsor too. The game is too hard without people helping you.
Billiards Australia: Thanks Charlie, it has been an education.
Charlie: In Malta in the village of Paola on 25/10/1933. I never attended a day of school in my life.
Billiards Australia: At what age did you start playing billiards.
Charlie: When I was 12 years old. Paola had one Billiards table and I was always on it, no one else could get a turn. I made my first 200 break when I was 15
Billiards Australia: When did you come to Australia
Charlie: in 1950 when I was 17. I could not speak a word of English and could neither read nor write. Even today I can read a little in English but not so good on the writing. My father told me if anyone asks you something just say " yes" . This got me into a bit of trouble.
When I was just off the boat someone told me where the Billiards tables were so I went into the city to the Metropolitan Club...a whole room full of tables. I could not believe what I was seeing; they are playing Snooker and I have not seen this before.
I sat and watched and some guy came up and said something to me, I just say " yes" then he pulls a cue out of the rack hands it to me and puts a pound note in the corner pocket. He signals that I too should put a pound in the pocket. I don't know what is going on. We play, I don't know a thing about Snooker and at the end he takes both pound notes and puts them in his pocket and walks off. I don't even know what just happened, I just say yes.
I watch for a while and then come back a week later with my brother who has some English. I have seen the Snooker for a bit now and start to understand what is happening so we start to bet. We win everything, we clean up, easy money. In 7 out of 9 frames I clear the table...then no one wants to play me any more.
Billiards Australia: What was the most you ever won in a match?
Charlie: Maybe $4000 or $5000. It was always the side bets that made the most. Maybe you play the opponent for $500 or even in pounds back then. But all his mates want to bet on him too because they think he is a great player in their area and they don't know me. I take them all on $200 here another $300 from someone else and I take all their money. Easy.
Billiards Australia: So did you get a job when you came to Sydney.
Charlie: I never worked one day in my life, not one, I am a little ashamed to say that, but I am proud to say that I have also never spent one day on the dole. Always lived on my skills.
I was always a money player, not a tournament player. Money comes out I grow an extra leg and I never know what pressure is because even at age 12 I am playing for money. If I don't win I don't eat and that is how I grew up so pressure means nothing to me. It has always been there.
Billiards Australia: Who was the best player you ever played against?
Charlie: At Snooker Norman Squires, he was like me, a money player at Tattersall's Club. He died on the table there. Also Warren Simpson and Alan Macdonald. Later maybe Warren King and John Campbell. I played Eddie Charlton as well but did not enjoy it.
At billiards Bob Marshall was great but I am not playing tournament Billiards so I while I love Billiards first I can make more money at Snooker. Toughest guys I ever played against at Billiards were Les Manglesdorf and Jim Collins.
Marshall was the greatest of that era, but Bolton is better.
Billiards Australia: Did you ever see Walter Lindrum play?
Charlie: Yes I go into his room and see this guy practising on the far table and the lady says it is Walter Lindrum. She asks if I want to play by myself or do I want to pick out balls for Lindrum. I say I will spot balls for Lindrum, but I never once in an hour have to touch the balls. He makes no pots or in-offs, just tap tap tap. There can never be anyone else like Lindrum.
Billiards Australia: So who taught you to play?
Charlie: No one I teach myself. There is no one good in my village and I cannot read so no books or nothing. I just spend time experimenting, learning new ways, always working on it. These days they can look on a computer ; we had none of that.
Billiards Australia: So you went from money matches to coaching?
Charlie: I retired at 52 from money games and already I am having people say to me, "help me Charlie" so I start to take on some guys who want to learn more.
Billiards Australia: I understand you are very selective on who you take on. In fact there is a story going around that a young player approached you asking for coaching and you asked if he was any good. He replied that he was very good and that you asked him to demonstrate by potting a ball off the centre spot from the baulk line and following it in to the top pocket, ten times. He potted all ten balls and followed in with the cue ball nine times, rattling the last one. What happened then?
Charlie: I told him I would not take him on as he was not good enough. I give him his money back.
Billiards Australia: 9 out of 10 is not good enough?
Charlie: No its not good enough, but also the kid was full of himself and I decided early he thinks he is too good already so he is not going to listen to me. Just a waste of my time, so I say no.
Billiards Australia: So who were your best students?
Charlie: There have been so many, but the best are maybe Vinnie and Chris Calabrese. Adam Waller was a very hard worker and learned lots. Tyson Crinis had real ability and of course Joe Minici, but maybe Joe does not want to be mentioned.
When I am coaching you, you are in my head all week I am not thinking about anything else just how to make you better. When I was coaching I was coaching 14 hours a day. So when I say I have not worked a day in my life I have been working non-stop for 27 years. I just don't call this work.
Billiards Australia: Did you prefer playing or coaching?
Charlie: Coaching. It gives more to the game.
Billiards Australia: Best billiards player of the Modern era?
Charlie: Mike Russell. He is always the best, best touch, best control.
Billiards Australia: What advice would you give to aspiring Billiards players?
Charlie: Everyone needs a coach, you have to work hard too but you cannot learn everything yourself, and maybe a sponsor too. The game is too hard without people helping you.
Billiards Australia: Thanks Charlie, it has been an education.
