I am very fortunate to have one of the coolest jobs in the world. For the past 11 years I have earned a living playing pool.
I started playing when I was a kid and progressed through the tournaments until I achieved professional status when I was 21. I played on the main pro tour for twelve seasons, waiting for some massive prize money to arrive, it didn't!
So I found that the best way for me to make a living with a cue in my hand was to entertain people with trickshots. I spent so much time doing them that I got good enough to win the 8 Ball Professional Trickshot Championship on Sky TV.
Over the years my show has moved in a comical direction. Trickshots can be very boring, but if they are done correctly they can be hilarious!
Since 1996 I have performed over 1,500 shows in all sorts of venues, to all sorts of audiences. Last year I took a show to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time.
Website
stevedaking.com
Influences
Ray Reardon and Eddie Izzard
TV Shows
Guinness World Records, and my left hand has been in Eastenders
Steve Daking's Interests
General
Please go and admire my trickshottery on YouTube If you leave a nice comment about my trickshots, I will love you for long time
Sometimes I think the whole meaning for life can be seen on the pool table. You have balls representing planets spinning on the metaphorical cosmos of the baize. These collide: sometimes for a good purpose (potting a ball for instance) or sometimes by accident and disaster strikes (like going in-off). Our whole existence can summed up by these little balls rolling around the table. The thought of it can make me emotional, and I occasionally weep when I think about it.
Other times I just like to pot 'em.
I always try to get a picture of my willing assistant while playing the famous highball trickshot. You can see some of these pictures in my famous ball in the mouth gallery
Who I'd like to meet: Milla Jovovich & Stephen Fry
