Durban North resident ready for world champs challenge
Erin Lazarus (21), who is part of Team South Africa, will take part in the Blackball International World Championships.
DURBAN North resident Erin Lazarus has set her sights and cue on winning the Ladies’ Singles category at this year’s Blackball International World Championships.
The 21-year-old, who is part of Team South Africa, will take part in the singles, doubles, mixed doubles and team (five ladies) categories at the event in Bridlington Spa, England, from October 11.
Lazarus, a first-year student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), studying business science and finance, has been playing the game since a young age but started taking it seriously from 15.
A former Durban Girls’ College learner, Lazarus, is ranked third in the country.
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The world champs of Blackball pool take place every two years, and are sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA).
“I’m really looking forward to the competition, and even though I will be competing in several categories, my main goal is to win the singles category. I was quite pleased with my performances at the national Blackball Championships earlier this year. While I didn’t win the singles, I ranked in the top five in the country, and our KZN team came third. I was also named the Top Provincial Player. This would be my second world champs, and I’m looking forward to competing. I feel that playing in international tournaments helps teach you discipline but it also helps your pre-shot routines and makes you mentally strong,” she said.
Her best result to date is winning gold in the Doubles category with partner AnnMarie Kruger at the World Championships in Morocco in 2022.
Speaking on her selection, Lazarus said she was honoured to, once again, don the green-and-gold and represent her country.
“It is hard to believe sometimes, but this is a massive honour for me. I certainly wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for my father, Ian, and mother, Cassandra. They have been so supportive of my dream. My father actually introduced me to the sport,” she said.
Her father not only coached her in the beginning but also bought a pool table which she uses to practise on almost daily.
Outside of Blackball, Lazarus enjoys watching football.
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