For this first edition of our niche sports rubric, the Karlovian had the pleasure and honour of speaking with Slavomir Dorobant, the reigning Czech 8ball pool champion, and number one in the national rankings. Hailing from Slovakia, Slavomir started playing at a young age. Over the course of a love affair, lasting for almost thirty years, he has achieved true greatness. Slavomir has been champion of the Czech Republic, in various disciplines and categories, no fewer than nine times!

Today, he is representing Billiard Club Řípská Praha, a stylish venue in the Vinohrady area, and one of most successful clubs in the country. So, if you think you know your way around a pool table, and would like to hone your skills on professional level tables, Řípská is the place to go. Other good choices in Prague would be Harlequin and Balabuška, both in Prague 4. And even if you are a total beginner and your greatest achievement is managing to hit the white ball with the cue (that’s the official term for the stick with which you play), no need to get discouraged. Nobody started off by clearing tables in one go. Not even Slavomir Dorobant.

Slavomir’s most recent achievement came in January this year, when he won the national 8ball title. The path to this trophy was especially challenging. After a grueling qualification campaign featuring all the players in the country, Slavomir faced the cream of the crop. As if this wasn’t hard enough, he suffered an unexpected defeat, and had to go through the minefield that is the loser’s round to get back into the main draw. A few wins later, he was in the semi. There, his opponent, the 2020 national 9ball champion, pushed him to a deciding game, which Slavomir won. In the final, our man was flying high, pulling away into a 7:5 lead, one game away from victory. This opponent, another former multiple national champion, refused to accept defeat, and clawed him back to 7:7. In the deciding frame, an unfazed Slavomir calmly cleared the table, seemingly without a care in the world. Thanks to his strength under pressure, Slavomir Dorobant is once again “Top Dog” in the Czech Republic.

The variant in which Slavomir triumphed, 8-ball, is the most well-known form of the game, and is the one commonly played in bars. It is setup with seven striped and seven unicolor balls, plus the black eight-ball on the table. Whoever sinks all seven of either type first, gets a crack at the winning eight-ball. Two other variants are often played, 9- and 10-ball. They are examples of so-called rotation games; only the balls numbered 1 to 9 or 10 are featured, and the goal is to sink them in order, with the player getting the last, and highest numbered ball emerging victorious. If you’ve ever wondered why pool balls have numbers on them, this is the reason. Finally, the hardest and least commonly played variety is known as straight pool, or 14/1 continuous. In a nutshell, you can go for whichever ball you like, and one ball sunk means one point for you. The first one who sinks a predetermined number of balls wins.

Now that you know who Slavomir Dorobant is, what exactly he is so good at, and some background on the sport, let’s get to know a bit about him!

How did you get into pool in the first place?

Me and my brother Miro were living in Martin, Slovakia, where we grew up. Just across the street a bar was opened and it had two 8ft tables. This was in early 1990’s. We started to play one day, and we fell in love with the game. We could not stop and for a long time we spent every crown we had in our pocket for the table fee. We played quite badly but we were quickly improving. 

Improvement in pool is a slow process, but it is certainly possible with regular practice and dedication. Even if going pro is not your cup of tea, you can learn a lot just by watching those who are better than you, and trying to emulate their stance and technique. Plus, many accomplished players give private lessons. So, if you are intent on upping your game, just go to your nearest pool hall (Řípská is an excellent choice), observe those who seem to know what they are doing, and don’t be shy to ask them about their game.

What do you love most about pool?

I love everything about pool, but what I love the most is the atmosphere in the pool hall, the people I meet and I love the practice, each day I learn a thing or two, even after almost 30 years of playing. 

The beauty of pool is that everyone can enjoy it, no matter their skill level. It is a social game, and most people’s first thought of pool is of friends playing doubles on bar tables, sharing one cue, and more than a few beers and laughs. And in case you’re not aware, a game of pool is an excellent idea for a date! However, for professional players, pool can be quite a lonely endeavor, as the very best of them practice, on their own, for up to ten hours a day.

Please describe how you train. How did you become so good?

Mostly I just run racks of 9-ball or 10-ball. I rarely do any drills. Mainly nowadays I try to work on my weaknesses, especially the break. Your pool level is down to who you practice with to a great extent. I was lucky enough that I met the right people who pulled my game up to their level and beyond. 

Getting good at pool is a bit like learning to drive. You have to distort your body in a certain way, hold the cue at just the right places with both hands, and make sure you have a smooth stroke. And that’s before you even focus on where and how you’re going to strike the ball. For beginners, all these details are hard to master at once, and it takes a while until it all becomes automatic. But once your body gets used to the weird position you keep putting it in (be prepared for a bit of pain in your back, neck, shoulders and even hands at first), you will never have to think about it again. Then, you can enjoy the game to the fullest.

What would you say is your strongest attribute? What sets you apart from competitors?

I try to stay calm whatever the circumstances. But I would say my strongest attribute is recognizing and playing the right and most percentage shot in every situation.

Competitive pool is a whole lot different than practice. You must be prepared to sit for a while, and watch your opponent produce amazing shots to clear table after table. Once you finally get a shot, you might find yourself several racks behind, without having made a mistake. Then, you must be ready to match your opponent’s brilliance, all the while knowing that a single bad shot likely means more sitting and watching. The pressure to play perfectly is immense, and most players tend to buckle under it. At the highest level, every competitor is more than capable of playing flawlessly, and the tiniest of details can decide a match. In short, pool is a mental game.

What would you say is your greatest achievement?

Winning the teams competition in 2013 with Mnichovo Hradiště team. I hope for another win for Řípská Praha.

The Czech Republic offers players plenty of chances to compete. All four disciplines are played, with national league competitions running almost year-round. Players are ranked based on their performance in all tournaments, and this determines their draw. In addition to individual tournaments, doubles and team events are played as well, meaning that a dedicated player has the opportunity to play, on average, every other weekend. And if this doesn’t satisfy your appetite, unofficial club tournaments, open for everyone, fill the gaps in the calendar.

What message would you like to send to young people taking up pool?

When you’re beginning to play, try to play as much as you can. Play with players better than you and watch them closely. Ask them for advice or help. You will learn much faster.

What are you waiting for? Head on down to any one of Prague’s beautiful pool halls, look and ask around, because Slavomir and other top-level players are more than happy to give you tips on how to start off and get good.

Even though Slavomir might resemble a robot around the table, with his serious, cool, no-nonsense approach to the game, he is human like every one of us. And as such, he’s got his quirks and idiosyncrasies. That’s right, it’s time for the random questions!

What is your favourite movie?

My favourite movie would be, probably, Pulp Fiction! I’ve seen it, like, twenty times in Czech, Slovak, English, you name it.

If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Probably kebab and French fries!

What was your first job?

Electrician. That is what I studied for.

Cats or dogs?

Dogs. I’ve had two cats before, for many years, but I prefer dogs.

Do you have a phobia? If so, what is it?

With age, height is obvious, but I have a phobia of losing a match with you!