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By Kelvin Leong

One last chance on the final leg of the Guinness 9-Ball Tour for Chinese bet, Li He Wen to make it through to the Grand Finals in Jakarta.

Can he do it?

The man certainly thinks so.

Q: You are in 12th place on the Tour's rankings. Do you think you'll be able to break into the Top 10 and book your place in the Grand Final?

Mentally and physically, I'm very prepared and I'm feeling confident of my chances especially playing in my own country.

Q: What do you think of the standard of 9-Ball pool in Asia?

It is definitely much better than the Europeans and the Americans!

Asia has been dominating 9-Ball for the past few years and I see Asia staying at the top for many years to come.

Q: How much does Lady Luck help in the game of 9-Ball?

I'd say that the game of 9-Ball is 20% luck and 70% skill. The pressure is always there but players have to learn how to manage it. I do feel greater pressure during this year's Tour as compared to last year but it is something every player has to cope with.

Q: Keeping a cool head is of great importance in a precision sport like 9-Ball. How do you keep yourself in tip top form, physically and mentally?

I try to swim to keep fit but generally, I try not to give myself too much pressure because that can backfire on your game. I try to maintain a calm and collected state of mind and I find that really works for me.

Q: Which player on the Tour do you least fancy playing against?

A competition is a competition. But if I had to pick, it would have to be the players from Chinese-Taipei and the Philippines. It's never easy to play against the Chinese-Taipei players as they give very little away. You can never tell what they're thinking!

As for the Filipinos, their skills are excellent and they have such a good grasp of the game. Facing the players from these two countries is always a challenge.

Q: Having ESPN STAR Sports and Guinness as the organiser and the sponsor of the tournament must have been a big boost to the sport. Do you feel that both companies have helped put the sport on the map in Asia?

Yes. Broadcasting the tournament live across Asia definitely helps to raise the profile of the sport and create awareness and interest.

Personally, I've observed more and more young people picking up pool in China, just by taking a look at pool halls around the country.

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