SAMSUN – The presence of the Turkish billiard Federation’s board was not only to support their four players at the World championship three cushion in Porto. Chairman Ugur Kurugöllü and his secretary took every available opportunity to promote the World Championship artistic billiards, which starts tomorrow (12 september) and ends on Sunday 16 september.
In the Yasar Dogu sport Center, the organization will offer players and spectators ideal conditions. Ugur Kurugöllü expects at least 3000 spectators. ,,Our capacity is 5000, and maybe we’ll need it on the final day.''
Billiards is big in Turkey, bigger than ever before. The country now has 21.000 registered players, many young talents among them, female players and those who play other disciplines than carom billiards.
On a terrace of the Yeatman hotel in Porto, we speak with Ugur Kurugöllü, the federation president who has changed the face of billiards in Turkey.
Frits Bakker: A world championship artistic billiards with 5000 spectators? Is that realistic? Is artistic that popular in Turkey?
Ugur Kurugöllü: ,,The request for tickets has been so great, that this is not an exaggeration. We look forward to a fantastic event with perfect conditions and overwhelming interest from the public.''
FB: Has Turkey organized this championship before?
UK: ,,Yes, three times already, in Sivas, my home town, in Malatya and in Kostamono. Every one of those was a succesfull event.''
FB: How long have you been the chairman of the Turkish billiard federation, and what has changed in that time, to make you speak of a new culture?
UK: ,,I was elected 8 years ago, and we have grown tremendously since that year, in all disciplines. We are not just there to support billiards and other carom games, we are also there for pool, which attracks many young players. This board has created a new culture, the mentality is different than it was before my period. The Turkish championship, to name an example, used to be played with 16 players, now with 700. We have international champions in pool, we play team matches in different leagues all over Turkey.''
FB: And not only the support of top players is important, also the development of young players is an important part of the policy.
UK: ,,For example: we have arranged with the ministry of sport that many schools in Turkey will place billiard tables. Our players will go there and teach. We live in a large country with many students, that is our market. We must promote our sport amongst those young people.''
FB: ,,As an organizer, Turkey is important to the UMB. Turkey has been responsible for the European Championship three cushion (this year), it has organized many World Cups, and now the WC artistic.
UK: ,,That is what we want to be known for, and we want to show international players that they are always welcome to our country, also to play in our leagues.''
FB: A final question: Will Semih Sayginer, former world champion and one of the most attractive players in the sport, be back in the international arena? Many afficionado’s of the game are begging for him to return, especially after his victory in a major tournament in Colombia. Semih himself has always said there is a conflict between him and the Turkish chairman, and he will not return as long as you are in charge. What has actually happened between you two?
UK: ,,When I got elected as Turkish chairman, Yilmaz Özcan was nr. 1 on the Turkish ranking, ahead of Adnan Yüksel and Semih Sayginer. But in spite of that, Semih told me: It is my decision who goes to a WC or a EC, I will make those choices, don’t make any decisions without consulting me. If you do that, you can stay. If not, I will make sure they will shoot you as chairman.''
,,I have ignored that threat, and we have begun to make our own policy, focussing on young players, female players, pool billiards. The result is, in those eight years we have grown to a federation of 21.000 players.''