A Q&A with Darren Morgan

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Darren Morgan, one of the greats of Welsh snooker and former professional with a highest ranking of number 8 and highest break of 145. Now on the amateur circuit, Darren is still travelling around the world, picking up titles with recent silverware in Burma. Morgan also has turned his hand to commentary, contributing his pearls of wisdom for BBC Wales at the recent Welsh Open. Darren has his own snooker club and I am fortunate enough to have him as a friend.

I recently caught up with him in the player’s lounge at Cardiff, where he agreed to do a Q&A with me.

What or who first made you interested in snooker?

My Father first got me started and got me interested with the game of snooker.

At what age did you first start playing?

I started playing on a full size table when I was 16 so I was a late bloomer.

What is your earliest snooker memory?

Playing in my back garden with my brothers on a 5ft table set up for us my my dad, I was about10-11 years of age

Which player in the game do you admire and who if different has inspired you?

The two players I have looked up to through the years were Ray Reardon purely on the way he played and then the other would be Steve Davis is a true professional on and off the table.

Do you miss playing on the main tour?

Yes of course I miss the main tour I had a lot going on in my life on a personal level which stopped me from performing at the level I was once at so it was time to call it a day just could not get back what I had lost due to all the personal tragedy I had.

If you could go back in time in your career, would you change anything?

Yes I would, hindsight is a wonderful thing you have a limited timeframe within professional sport so I would have worked much harder and been a lot more professional and not waste the opportunities that I had because you just do not know how long you got there.

Do you think Welsh snooker is in a good place?

At this moment in time I think not just Welsh snooker but all the home nation countries are struggling a little and it’s very hard to see at the moment where the next generation of youngsters are going to come from.

If you could be any current or former player, who would you be?

I would be myself because I think that’s what everyone strives for to be the best that one can be but if my head was on a block it would be Steve Davis just because of his professionalism.

So you own a snooker club, how many tables and is it a success?

We have 12 tables in the club 6 snooker and 6 pool it’s been there since 1983 so you would have to say it has stood the test of time.

What are your plans for the future?

Just to make the most of new opportunities that come my way and to enjoy what I have and enjoy my family because without that there is no point.

Thanks to Darren for his time and contribution.
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