Javier Palazón (24), seeking new heights

PAIPORTA - Javier Palazón is just 24, he has a wonderful honor role with three junior world titles and two semi-finals at the World Cchampionship, he is one of the big talents in three cushion, but could not continue his progress last year. ,,I need some more years to gain experience.''

The young Spaniard defeated on his way to his three world titles Dutchman Glenn Hofman twice and Erick Tellez from Costa Rica once. At  the World Championships in Sluiskil he beat Marco Zanetti in a thrilling quarter final match (15-14 in fifth set), next year he was outplayed by the Italian in the quarters in Lima.

Javier Palazón, who lives a life as a full professional billiards player, is seeking new heights in his career, to start with the Agipi Masters in two weeks and the World Cup in Hurgada in the first week of December.
 
Javier Palazón, who lives with his girlfriend Verónica Lorenzo Mora in Paiporta near Valencia and is studying English, interviewed by Kozoom about his great passion: three cushion.

Frits Bakker: The breakthrough came so fast, with your junior world titles, the step you made to the seniors and two semi-final spots at the World Championship. You stunned the world of three-cushion.
Javier Palazón: ,,I was surprising myself as well with victories against world-class players during my first senior years. I was in my early twenties, when I was on the podium at the World Championships in Sluiskil and Lima amongst big names: Dani Sánchez, Dick Jaspers, Marco Zanetti. Yes, of course, it was a start to be proud of.''

FB: But after the great successes, there was a little hiccup in the progression. To be honest: it was very logical in the development of such a young player.
JP: ,,The expectations were a little too high, maybe. It was very difficult to continue at the level I performed in those years when I first met the best players in the world. I still consider these years as the period in which I have to gain experience. There are times when I have the perfect feeling, but that afterwards I get a little relapse. You have know what your potential is and thus build up to another step in your career.''

FB: Tell us what your life looks like now? You do some studying and you live as a professional player?
JP: ,,Billiards is my profession since a few years. I live with my girlfriend Verónica in Paiporta. She's studying psychology and works in a special center for mentally disturbed people. I practice a lot, play matches and give lessons to amateur players. And I try to pick up again the level of those performance at the World Championships in 2010 and 2011.''

FB: The top twelve of the ranking is far away now (28th), what are your ambitions for the upcoming year? How do you prepare for the Agipi Masters and the Hurghada World Cup?
JP: ,,I'm training really hard to find my rhythm for the main events. Every morning I go to the club in Paiporta, to practice two hours on my own and in the evenings I play matches with my billiards friends such as Antonio Ortiz.''

FB: For your development it would be important to play in foreign leagues, not only in Spain.
JP: ,,Yes, for all Spanish players there is a drag on further development, because we don't play in the strong countries; the only one is Dani Sánchez. I would really like to perform in the Netherlands, Belgium or France, because it is very important to meet strong opponents. In Spain we only play some tournaments and a competition in a small part of the year.''

FB: How is your form for the moment with the Agipi Masters and the World Cup of Hurghada on the way?

JP: ,,I played some good matches in training and in a national tournament, where I beat Jose Javier Gimeno, a player from Caseta Nova, 40 caroms in ten innings with a run of seventeen. The Agipi Masters for sure is a highlight every year, for each player. It's the best tournament in which I ever played in my career. My best performance there was in 2011 when I was sixth. I'm aiming high again this year.''

FB: You play in a group with Roland Forthomme, Dion Nelin, Raimond Burgman and Jean-Cristoph Roux. How would you estimate your chances?
JP: ,,All players who are invited for the Agipi Masters really are tough players, they all are players on a very high level. So it is not that easy to predict who will qualify, we all are eager to shine. But I'm sure that I prepared very well, I'm ready for the Masters.''

Portrait:
Javier Palazón
Lives in: Paiporta (Valencia)
Born: 02/18/1988
 
Honor role:
3x World Champion juniors
1x European Champion juniors
2x semifinal World championship
3x Spanish champion under 17
3x Spanish champion under 21
3x Spanish champion under 25
2x Spanish champion teams
1x Spanish champion

Best match: 40 in 8 innings
Highest run: 20

UMB ranking: 28

Sponsors:
Rufes Billares
Clic lights group
Tarazona.