Reem Chamoun – Charbel Henno
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – In a dark basement in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, 19-year-old Gabriel Youssef spends several hours every day in the dim light playing his favorite game of billiards, which he started playing years ago as an amateur, honing his skill to eventually become a professional.
Like other young people, this Syriac youth used to play online and with his friends in Qamishli pool halls. His eight-year hobby eventually became a professional skill, and he learned tricks that made him a distinguished player.
Starting with YouTube
Youssef’s story began since he was 11. At that time, he had no idea about the game, except what he watched on TV screens and the internet. He used to go out with his friends to billiard halls to train and learn the game’s rules and skills.
Sitting next to his table, he told North Press: "I felt that I was doing something distinguished when I was playing it. I wanted to play and learn it, and I got more interested in it after my family and friends encouraged me."
Websites, especially YouTube, helped Gabriel develop his skills and showed how different and beautiful the game is. Since he did not receive proper training for the game, he “searched YouTube to watch world champions, and I watched international matches and skills."
Overcoming difficulties
Youssef did not have any billiard equipment, and did not receive specialized training for the game, but he continued his self-training in Qamishli halls for years.
After five years training for four hours a day, supported by his family who valued their son's attachment to the game and the development of his skills, he bought his own billiards table.
"The greatest difficulty I faced was spending a long time outside the home, thus my family supported me in addition to what I previously saved, and I was able to buy a used billiard table from my friend."
The family turned their basement into a private training hall for their son, who aspires to develop his skills and fulfill his dreams. "I aspire to reach the world, I know this is difficult, but I am sure that with persistence and effort I can make my dream come true,” he said.
Youssef specializes in billiards tricks, which requires special sticks. Each trick has a specific stick in order to achieve different movements and skills, according to him.
"These types of sticks are not available in Syria, so I ask my relatives in Europe and America to secure them, and they take a long time to reach Syria.
Role models create ambition
Youssef says that every successful person has a role model, something he one day hopes to become. "I watch many world billiards champions, and I never imagined that I would become a master player by watching them.”
He prefers to watch and follow the practices of famous French trick shot player Florian Kohler.
"When you have a role model, you have an ambition of being the same, and mine is the ten-time world champion in billiards tricks Florian Kohler."
Youssef was not content with just watching Kohler's skills, but also tried to communicate with him more than once, sending videos of his tricks to his hero to show him his skills. Luckily, the player responded with private messages.
"I contacted Florian Kohler on Facebook. I never imagined he would reply to my messages, but he surprised me by replying, and he encouraged me to keep the good work.”
Later Kohler published a video of Youssef doing some tricks on his billiard table in Qamishli, something that fulfilled the young players dreams.
Global invitations and future dreams
After his distinction, he was invited to attend the World Trick Championship in the United States of America, which was held on October 18, 2018, and he was also invited to a local championship in China with the participation of world trick shot champions.
However, he was unable go, "due to the general situation in Syria and especially regarding visas, I could not participate."
Youssef is a first year student of the Prosthodontics Institute in the city of Aleppo. He is interested in his studies, but believes that his progress in his hobby precedes his academic success. He created special accounts on social media sites to publish videos and pictures that include his innovative tricks.
"Billiards is more important than studying for me, and my family does not prevent me from playing and spending my time," says the young player with a smile.
Like many Syrian athletes, Youssef did not receive any official invitation from the General Sports Federation, which is considered the highest governmental sporting authority in Syria.
"I have not been invited yet for any local tournament, and I hope to participate and represent my country in local and international tournaments."
In his opinion, billiard is neglected due to the lack of internet and the miscommunication with concerned authorities in Syria.
In his private hall, Youssef has recently started training a number of his friends on the game’s skills, as many of them became very interested in it after a noticeable development they saw in the performance of their friend.
Youssef considers his family, relatives, and friends as supporters to develop his skills and continue on his path to achieve his ambitions.