3-Cushion
ISTANBUL – He was born in Ankara, his father had a leather sales shop, his parents still live in Ankara. The Turkish billiard player Lütfi Cenet is still studying at the last grade of university, but is a professional billiard player now. ,,I wanted to be related with tourism’, before I decided to be billiard player’, he says. He has two sisters and an older brother, was very good in basketball in his younger years. ,,And yes, I have a wonderful relationship since three years’’, he tells Kozoom.
The 30-year-old Lütfi Cenet is living in Istanbul now. ,,I moved to Istanbul leaving all my family and friends behind, just to improve my billiard.’’
The Turkish top player about his life, his career, his ambitions to play in other countries, the affair Semih Sayginer, talents in Turkey and other thins.
Frits Bakker: When was the first time that you were involved with billiards?
Lütfi Cenet: ,,That was in Ankara in 1994. The neighbour of my fathers store, Mr. Dogan, took me one day to a billiards club . I liked it a lot and started playing from that moment. But as a professional I only started in 2001. Until that year, for three years I didn’t play at all. Now I earn my living only with billiards and I don’t have any sponsor at the moment, only Adam cue, the company for my cues. After Semih Sayginer I was the first player in Turkey who had a cue with the name. They assure me that they believe in me, that's great for me.’’
FB: Where did you develop yourself as a player, did you have a trainer and a teacher? And which club are you playing now. Where do you train or do you have a billiard table at home?
LC: ,,I have developed myself in Ankara. Several people, like Esen Kibaroglu, Avni Koksal, Mehmet Coskun Meric tought me a lot in billiards, even though I didn’t have a certain teacher. Now I play in Max billiards in İstanbul. I do my practices there with Tayfun Tasdemir every now and then. I don’t have a billiard table at home. But I’m training at least six hours a day for seven days a week. Billiards means everything for me.’’
FB: Who were your favorite players in the years you started to develop as a billiard player?
LC: ,,Torbjörn Blomdahl and Dick Jaspers were my best favorite players all the time. The power and stability, I like it very much.’’
FB: When did you get the feeling for the first time that you got more talent than an ordinary young player?
LC: ,,I think in 2001 at my first Turkish championship that I attended. I felt I was more than an ordinary player. It was the first tournament I had ever attended and I was in the first sixteen. That gave me hope. In a very short time I have defeated all the best players in Turkey. That gave me the confidence that I am talented for billiards.’’
FB: What was your first national success and your best international performance so far?
LC: ,,The first Turkish championship I won in 2007. One year later I was the number three in France at the European championship for teams. And we won the European championship for teams in 2009 in France.’’
FB: How many tournaments do you play in Turkey to be the champion of your country?
LC: ,,Every year we play four tournaments. I am still the champion for 2010.’’
FB: Which tournaments did you win last year to grab that title?
LC: ,,Only one was enough for me. Because I was always in the first three.’’
FB: How many times have you been champion of Turkey?
LC: ,,Three times since 2001.’’
FB: What was your position regarding the conflict between top players like Semih Sayginer and the Turkish federation and how do you think about it now?
LC: ,,I was living in Ankara in those years and I was not in the middle of everything. I preferred to stay quiet since playing billiard is my life, I just played and didn’t interfere with the rest. At the end I was right. No one can fight against the federation and our job is just to play. The rest is politics. All the players, except Semih, started to play again anyway.’’
FB: Do you agree it is a pity that a player like Semih Sayginer has left the international and national tournaments?
LC: ,,Yes, of course it is a big pity. It was very great for us even to watch him. He was everybody’s idol in Turkey.’’
FB: But Turkey still has many talents to remain one of the leading countries in three-cushion?
LC: ,,In my opinion there are three more talented players, but of course they have to practice a lot.’’
FB: You play some tournaments in a year, but also competition in your country?
LC: Yes, I do. I play in BDSK from İstanbul, last year our team was the champion.’’
FB: Would you like to play in one or more other countries?
LC: ,,I really want to play in the Dutch or the or the French league especially. That is the NBA league for billiards. I am really waiting for an invitation since I am number thirteen at the World cup ranking and seventeen on the world ranking. Billiard authorities assure me this ranking is very successful for a player who only plays since ten years now.’’
FB: So you prefer Holland and France, why?
LC: ,,Because they have the best players in their league. But of course I wouldn’t say no to other invitations. It is very important to play in such strong leagues. To play with good and strong competitors can improve your playing a lot. To become a good player, you múst play at a high level in leagues like this. I really wish to receive an invitation for the coming season.’’
FB: With what kind of expectations are you going to the World Cup in Trabzon?
LC: ,,I try to do my very best in every tournament. Of course my first wish is to win the tournament, but it also will be good enough if I am in the first four of this World Cup in my own country. We shall see.’’