Billiards, one of the non-prominent sports in Turkey is being met with great interest among women. So that, Esin Demirci is among the rare athletes ranked as the third place nine months after she started playing billiards.
Esin Demirci was born in 1980 in Adiyaman Celikhan, grew up in a family of six brothers, and his family is still growing tobacco in Adıyaman. Having made her living by peeling artichoke at the organic market, Demirci started billiards thanks to a friend who is a national team player and nine months later she became the third best player of Turkey. Do you wonder how? Let’s listen to the story!
How did the billiard adventure begin?
I met billiard thanks to my friend who used to be a billiard national team player. I never thought I'd be a professional player one day. When I first started, I was playing American billiards just for fun.
Did you feel that you can play this game when you get the billiard cue in your hand?
No, I did not feel it. Even when I went to the billiard room for the first time and asked whether to play or not I just told them I was waiting for a friend of mine, there. First, I watched those who were playing, and then I started hitting the balls clumsily. Then, "Are you sure you are waiting for your friend?" one of the guy asked me, and added, "You should start from scratch and watch the players here". They gave me information about cue holding, posture, billiard and I started the game like that. Previously, it was a game I played in my free time just for fun. It lasted a few months. I never forget the date, I went to the billiard parlor for the job interview on April 1, 2012, and my friend wanted me to play billiard by giving me a cue as a gift. In April 19th, took part in women's championships of Turkey in the second round and I was ranked as the third.
Let’s talk about the billiard, what kind of game is this?
Billiards is a very special mind game that contains the laws of physics, mathematics, geometry and biology. What I understand from billiard, it is definitely a math game. Especially for the three bands. Balls have a combination on the table, and this combination is not impossible. When you make the geometric equation on the table you get the point. Billiards are a very nice game in which you become naturally happy when you win but have a gentle competition when you miss or lose the point.
What did Billiards add to you?
I can forget the whole world when I play billiards. Even during the match, I can put my whole life on the table and made very good decisions. I want people around me to meet this game. Women generally stay away from this sport, but I know they will not stop playing when they get the cue in their hands. The person who plays billiards is doing both brain and body gymnastics. We can have 3-4 kilometers around the table when playing a set of 40. Very good players are training for 6-8 hours a day. As a person who can play the instrument “Erbane” billiard is like a musical instrument to me. If you make good chords in the same way as musical instruments, you will be satisfied with billiard, too. When you have a break with it, your hand and arm angels are reduced. So, you need to be a in harmony with billiard and act as a whole. If you give up on it, it will leave you, too.
Each sport has a stance and creates a culture. How is this happening in Billiard?
If you're having a good game here comes good conversation in the hall. It certainly will not be any disrespect to the rival. Billiards is a gentlemanly game. If your opponent makes a good number of turnovers, you'll applaud him/her. Apart from winning, stance and respect toward the rival are very important.
You were ranked as the third in a very short period of time. What do you think as a reason for this?
Yeah, about nine months. It's a very short time slot, actually. I cannot say I worked too hard. I did not have an instructor. I just watched and played.
What do you set yourself as a goal?
I want to be number one in Turkey by working harder in the coming years. If I can achieve this, I can participate in both the European and the World Championships. My goal is to be a world champion, of course. Then, I want to train new female players. Nothing in a billiards is coincidental. Apart from other sports, this sport is more likely a training of the body and the mind with intelligence.
"We live in a society where women have a difficult and tough life. I want to be a model for women to boost their self-esteem and be shown more respect in society. Billiard is my field as it is the thing I know best, but it is necessary to respect and appreciate successful women in every field. "
