Courtesy of www.my147.com, I have translated an interview of Marcu Fu after he won his match against Ken Doherty by 13:10.
R: Reporter
M: Marco
R: You have managed to make the most out of the chances you had in this match...
M: Yes, in frame 19, Ken escaped my snooker three times, I ended up losing that frame. Frame 20 was very important, I barely won that frame. In the mid session break, I tried very hard to calm myself down. After the break, I felt much stronger mentally. I felt that I was well prepared mentally. Of course, I also knew that I might lose. Fortunately, that never happened. I played very well in the last three frames.
(Marco was down 10:9 before the break, and he won 3 frames in a row to win 13:10)
R: Are you exhausted after such a long match?
M: A little bit. Ken did not just played lot of great snooker(i.e. safety) but he was also capable of putting together great breaks(i.e. a high run). I did not expect our match to last that long. During our long session, I have tried to remain patience. At the most crucial moment, I am glad I was able to play some high quality snooker just as Ken had to me during the whole match.
("Snooker" is referred to the safety and hook that they played to each other)
R: You have played some excellent snooker, haven't you?
M: O, yes, I played some fantastic snookers (Marcu laughed as he said that). I have tried my very best to play perfect snookers.
R: Does it exceed your expectation to be able to enter the final four?
M: Before I came here, I only had one objective, which is to enjoy the great sport of snooker. In the last couple years, I was not able to enjoy it. I had been struggling very hard. But since I started working with Terry Griffths, I have found the lost joy of this sport again. Ever since I started working with Terry, my game has improved a lot, everything just feels beautiful. I have been practising very hard, as I look back now, my effort is finally paying off. Winning a Championship will be awesome, but from my prespective as a professional snooker player, I need to face my matches one at a time. Therefore, to win each match is the most important.
R: Being the second Asian who has made it to the semi in the World Championship, how do you feel?
M: I feel great! Ding won the British Snooker Championship and that really encouraged me. Since he and I are very good friends, I am very happy that he has achieved so much at such a young age. I really want to be a great snooker player, and I want to be remembered as a great Asian snooker player. Snooker is becoming more popular now, I wish I can perform as great as James Wattana in his prime. Snooker is growing really fast in China, and I would like to improve myself along with the Sport in China.
R: How long have you been practising with Terry?
M: Since last November, right before the British Championship.
R: What have you been working on?
M: We have been working on a lot of aspects on my game, such as my cueing delivery. I have changed my grip, and my stroke; but this is just a small part of what we have achieved together. I am playing much better than four five months ago, when I was having problem running 50's.
R: Does it take away some of your pressure that you are now playing better?
M: Humm, a little bit. As a matter of fact I did not feel too much pressure coming to this tournament. I do not really have anything to worry about because anyone here is capable of beating me. It is normal. Besides, due to my recent performance, no one expects me to win.
R: What have you been doing during the Championship? Have you been practising even harder?
M: It is not like that. I have been practising a lot before the Championship. When I got here, I tried to stay relax, and remind myself to exceed my performance during my practise. I am always expecting to play my matches in the tournaments, and I do not like to rush.
Richard
R: Reporter
M: Marco
R: You have managed to make the most out of the chances you had in this match...
M: Yes, in frame 19, Ken escaped my snooker three times, I ended up losing that frame. Frame 20 was very important, I barely won that frame. In the mid session break, I tried very hard to calm myself down. After the break, I felt much stronger mentally. I felt that I was well prepared mentally. Of course, I also knew that I might lose. Fortunately, that never happened. I played very well in the last three frames.
(Marco was down 10:9 before the break, and he won 3 frames in a row to win 13:10)
R: Are you exhausted after such a long match?
M: A little bit. Ken did not just played lot of great snooker(i.e. safety) but he was also capable of putting together great breaks(i.e. a high run). I did not expect our match to last that long. During our long session, I have tried to remain patience. At the most crucial moment, I am glad I was able to play some high quality snooker just as Ken had to me during the whole match.
("Snooker" is referred to the safety and hook that they played to each other)
R: You have played some excellent snooker, haven't you?
M: O, yes, I played some fantastic snookers (Marcu laughed as he said that). I have tried my very best to play perfect snookers.
R: Does it exceed your expectation to be able to enter the final four?
M: Before I came here, I only had one objective, which is to enjoy the great sport of snooker. In the last couple years, I was not able to enjoy it. I had been struggling very hard. But since I started working with Terry Griffths, I have found the lost joy of this sport again. Ever since I started working with Terry, my game has improved a lot, everything just feels beautiful. I have been practising very hard, as I look back now, my effort is finally paying off. Winning a Championship will be awesome, but from my prespective as a professional snooker player, I need to face my matches one at a time. Therefore, to win each match is the most important.
R: Being the second Asian who has made it to the semi in the World Championship, how do you feel?
M: I feel great! Ding won the British Snooker Championship and that really encouraged me. Since he and I are very good friends, I am very happy that he has achieved so much at such a young age. I really want to be a great snooker player, and I want to be remembered as a great Asian snooker player. Snooker is becoming more popular now, I wish I can perform as great as James Wattana in his prime. Snooker is growing really fast in China, and I would like to improve myself along with the Sport in China.
R: How long have you been practising with Terry?
M: Since last November, right before the British Championship.
R: What have you been working on?
M: We have been working on a lot of aspects on my game, such as my cueing delivery. I have changed my grip, and my stroke; but this is just a small part of what we have achieved together. I am playing much better than four five months ago, when I was having problem running 50's.
R: Does it take away some of your pressure that you are now playing better?
M: Humm, a little bit. As a matter of fact I did not feel too much pressure coming to this tournament. I do not really have anything to worry about because anyone here is capable of beating me. It is normal. Besides, due to my recent performance, no one expects me to win.
R: What have you been doing during the Championship? Have you been practising even harder?
M: It is not like that. I have been practising a lot before the Championship. When I got here, I tried to stay relax, and remind myself to exceed my performance during my practise. I am always expecting to play my matches in the tournaments, and I do not like to rush.
Richard
