Richard McHugh gives Austrian snooker a break

Richard McHugh made the five-hours train journey all the way back to his hometown of Innsbruck last Monday, the day after the tournament. But in Vienna, he is still talk of the town. The Irishman left Austria's snooker elite stunned as he easily claimed the second ASL Grand Prix title of the season.

"I felt very relieved after winning the tournament," McHugh means. "I have not played too much competitive snooker lately. I put in a lot of hard work the last couple of weeks and it is great to see the results."

McHugh, who beat the likes of national champion Bernhard Müllner, Austria's No. 2 Hans Nirnberger, and senior champion Ebrahim Baghi on his way to victory, was particularly happy with his two centuries: a 105 and a 103 - which should have been a 125 total clearance.

"Centuries mean very much to me," McHugh says. "I have been practising a lot lately, but just didn't manage to get the 100's. It had become a kind of mental barrier to me. So, I was even more relieved to get two centuries in Vienna."

The 40-year-old McHugh dominated the tournament in such a way, that it is questionnable whether any player will be able to beat him in the upcoming ASL Grand Prix tournaments - the first of which will be played at the Billiard Sport Arena in Innsbruck on 18 and 19 November, which makes it a home game to McHugh.

Hans Nirnberger, having a chat with the Irishman after the final, asked how the playing conditions are in Innsbruck. "The tables are very quick, and the pockets are tight," McHugh answered. Then, joking: "But I can't tell you more, as you are my enemy."

There are very few players who will seriously have a chance of beating the former professional of Ireland. Which is nothing to be ashamed of, in regard of McHugh's history. Just some weeks ago, he came close to defeating Ken Doherty in an exhibition match. But back in 1993, he once beat a certain player called... Ronnie O'Sullivan! McHugh upset the 2000 and 2004 world champion 5-4 in a pro-am tournament in England, when Ronnie was just 17. Don't forget that in that very same year, Ronnie was to win his first major title as a pro by gaining the UK Championship crown. So, a stunning achievement by McHugh!

But, of course, in a short best-of-3 or 5 match anything can happen, as one or two big breaks can decide about the outcome of a match. So, McHugh won't say he is going to win the next ASL Grand Prix as well. "There are a bunch of really good players around here. I expect them to even further raise their game in the near future. And for sure, they all want to beat me now."

How do other players see the impact of McHugh on snooker in Austria? On the ÖBSV Forum in the Internet, a lively discussion is going on.

"This guy is a blessing to Austria," means Felix Pleschek of Top Snooker Graz. "He could become to us, what Mike Henson was for the Germans and Darren Parris for the Swiss. He will give us an enormous push forward."

Alexander Pichler, ÖBSV President and an ASL Grand Prix player, agrees: "Someone like Richard can inspire other players to intensify their training, which makes him very valuable to the scene. Because for the first time since long now, it is not enough for our top-8 players to just play their game - they will have to improve."

Last season's No. 1 and winner of three ASL Grand Prix titles, Garry Balter, adds: "Good players can only learn from other players that are some classes above themselves. For me, playing another game against Jack [Hans Nirnberger, ed.] does not make either of us a better player. A pity that Richard doen't live in Vienna."

McHugh, who was a runner-up in the Irish championships in the early nineties and toured as a professional until 1994, faces the same kind of a problem - just the other way around. "If I want to produce centuries again on a regular basis, I will have to practice at least 12 to 15 hours a week. My problem is, there is no one around yet at this level in Innsbruck to practice with."

The only exception might be close friend and compatriot Dermot Nulty, who actually is the manager in McHugh's recently opened Irish pub The Galway Bay in Innsbruck. Nulty easily won last week's ASL Challenger in his hometown and has now qualified for the November ASL Grand Prix as well. So, that makes it two Irishmen to watch!

© text & photo: Eric Willemsen [Vienna]