Toowoomba duo ready for Queensland debuts

Toowoomba eight-ball players ready to represent Queensland at Australian titles.

STATE DUTIES: Competitive eight-ball players Chris Davison (left) and Chris Sourris will represent Queensland at the Australian Eight-Ball Championships next month. Picture: Kevin Farmer

EIGHTBALL: Two Toowoomba eight-ball players will make their Queensland debuts next month.

Chris Davison and Chris Sourris will realise long-held dreams when they represent their state at the Australian Eight Ball Nationals in Albury-Wodonga.

The pair will feature in single and team play during the nine-day competition.

Davison, 50, who first played the game when he was seven years old, will compete in the Master competition.

"My grandparents had a table at their house,” Davison said.

"I wasn't quite tall enough so I'd grab a stool to play my shot then move it around the table.

"I've been playing the game consistently since I was 18 - making the Queensland team is really exciting.”

A founding member of the Darling Downs Eight Ball Association in 1997, Davison said the key to success was having a good mental game.

"The mental side of things is big - just like in any sport,” he said.

"You've got to believe in yourself and the shots you're playing.

"You have to be calm and focused.”

Heading into the nationals Davison, said he would play his normal game.

"It's another step in the process for me,” he said.

"I put my head down and worked hard during the long qualification process and I'll do the same this time.

"It's a bit of cliche but I'll just take it a game at a time.”

Playing in the Open Division, Chris Sourris will take the same approach to the tournament as club-mate Davison.

"You have to play it one shot at a time,” Sourris said.

"I've spoken to a lot of my friends, people who played at the national championships, and they've all said you can be over-awed by the atmosphere.

"The advice they've given me is just to focus on yourself and concentrate on your shots.

"Between now and the championships I'll be putting in a lot of hard work.

"I'll be working on my cueing action, shot selection and a lot of game simulation.”

Having played eight-ball for 15 years, Sourris said making his Queensland was a dream come true.

"It's always been a goal of mine to play for Queensland,” he said.

"It's been a lot of hard work and a lot of people have helped me out - but it's worth it.

"Eight-ball is a sport that really rewards effort, the more (effort) you put in, the better the results.”

Originally published as Toowoomba duo ready for Queensland debuts