In the staid world of snooker, where the players, officials and even the spectators keep a stiff upper lip, Keishin Kamihashi comes as a breath of fresh air. After all, it is only natural for a 13-year-old to retain a childlike enthusiasm.
Keishin sighed, groaned and fist-pumped his way through the IBSF World snooker championship here, and even though he won only one of his six men’s group-stage matches, the Japanese teenager built a keen following.
“I love snooker, and I want to keep playing,” Keishin says, “I started playing when I was 11, and I got addicted.”
His father, Histaka Kamihashi, is competing in the Masters section, and can be credited with introducing Keishin to the sport. The senior Kamihashi owns a pool parlour in Nagoya, and has watched his son develop into a class act in quick time. Just two years after picking up the cue, Keishin defeated his father in the quarterfinals of Japan nationals, before losing in the final.
Histaka has no trouble accepting his loss in the last-eight fixture. “I felt very proud. I was so happy for him,” he says, and adds: “I know my kid is talented. I have big plans for him. Snooker is not big in Japan, and for him to grow, he needs to go to the United Kingdom. We hope to send him there soon.”
