Pro9 - Europe's No.1 Pool Player Resource

Full Name - Karl Boyes
Date of Birth - 4th November 1982
Born - Bradford, England
Lives - Blackpool, England
Titles/Achievements - 2007 World 9 Ball Championships Bronze Medallist
- 2004 World Cup Champion, English 8 Ball
- 2009 US Open, 7th Place
Playing Cue - Predator 5K2, 314(2) Shaft, Le Pro Tip
Break Cue - No Break Cue currently
Jump Cue - Mezz Air Shooter
Three words to describe me away from Pool - Funny, Handsome, Modest.
Three words to describe me at the table - Dangerous, Unpredictable, Explosive.

Photo � JR Calvert/InsidePOOL - & used by Pro9 with express permission.
Karl Boyes - The Changing Face of Pool

Working late nights in pool halls, both on and off the table, 6am is an hour more likely to be seen pre-sleep than post. Today is an exception to that fact. Today, five alarm calls (four mechanical and one useless-before-now early rising housemate) drag me up and away from my duvet to make the 114 mile trip from Leicester to Blackpool. Today, I am interviewing Karl Boyes.

Being 'environmentally aware', or as certain people like to call it, 'someone who can't drive', car sharing is of utmost importance. So after the short train ride to the sleepy village of Oakham, seeing David Carter smiling in his driveway ready to ferry me the rest of the journey was of some relief on this record breakingly cold January morning. Conversation on the road dipped into weighty issues such as the new and improved GB9 season, which sees hotels hosting British 9 Ball events for the first time; and the finer points of Jason Manford's stand-up routine, until talk naturally drifts on to the topic of the day, Mr Boyes. David Carter has been Karl's agent since May 2009 and by the 27 year old cueist's own admission, a major factor in his resurgence back to the business end of big time pocket billiards. A young man seemingly poised to ride the big waves of success following his 'on-debut' Bronze medal at the 2007 World 9 Ball Championships, Karl mysteriously dropped off the radar. Two years on and following a handful of superb results in recent months including, 7th place in the US Open, finishing as the highest placed British entrant; a Eurotour Runner-Up in Spain; and a member of the successful Great British team at the EPBF Nations Cup; I decided there was no better time to talk to Karl.

After travelling along the famous Blackpool Prom and arriving at Karl's house he shares with partner and fellow Pool star, 2008 Ladies World English 8 Ball Champion, Lynette Horsburgh, we exchanged greetings and got straight down to business; lunch. A lesser reporter, or maybe one with a schedule planned might have been put out by the news that they were accompanying messrs Boyes and Carter into town for food and shopping. I, unsurprisingly, had no such schedule planned and was more than happy to allow Karl to play tour guide and play it well. Full-bellied and with Karl and myself in agreement that David's new cap didn't suit him, we returned to base and I was introduced to Karl's immaculate Dynamic II table, sat proudly in a professional double-garage conversion off of the main hall. The break marks weigh heavily in the favour of Ten Ball, possibly 80 / 20 over 9 Ball. The lighting rig is ideal. The cushions play perfect. It was with a heavy heart that I declared time on the play just an hour in however, the clock was was ticking and there was lots to get through. Over the next two hours, Karl talked fluently, positively and with refreshing honesty on topics ranging from his life changing fitness regime to the frustrations of being a professional pool player in modern times.

"Read More..." for our exclusive interview with Karl Boyes.