HERMAN ARAUJO
ARAUJO ... GREATEST OF THEM ALL
SNOOKER MAGIC AT GUARDIAN SPORTS CLUB
By David Brewster
Express Section 2
October 30, 2001
Page 3
Billiards and snooker never seem to get the publicity they deserve in the sports pages, radio and television.
Emphasis has always been on the major ones - football, cricket, boxing, racing and track and field. But throughout the years there have been dozens of dramatic matches, on the billiards and snooker tables, matches which stunned aficionados, with players snatching victory while staring defeat in the face.
Snooker is one of the most demanding of indoor games, requiring years of practice, dedication, and nerve to reach the top.
There could be no worthwhile denial by anyone, that Herman Araujo, now 61, is one of the most versatile players produced here.
It is still the consensus that had he the exposure, he would have been a world-ranked, if not a world champion.
At 30, Araujo won every major tournament in the region. He had been snooker champion, doubles billiards champion, and singles billiards champion.
Usually, based on standards of play in the Caribbean, it takes a player over a decade to reach the top. Not so Araujo.
He created a record in 1967, completing a notable treble after only five years of competition. Araujo first won the national snooker crown, following up this victory with the doubles billiards title and ending the season by dethroning the 1966 champion Sonny Rogers in the singles.
The snooker series turned out to be an easy assignment for Araujo, but the doubles engagements were far from passing exercises as his partner, better known as a snooker player, was hopelessly at sea during the tournament. Araujo had to hold the fort almost single-handedly.
The singles final was indeed his sternest test as he came up against an opponent equipped with stroke play, experience, a man determined to keep his title.
The final saw Araujo building up a good lead in the early stages of the 350 point trip. But Rogers caught him at 253 and moved on to reach 300 ... 50 points from victory.
Most players would have succumbed under intense pressure. There was eerie silence throughout the match at Guardian Sports Club that night. Rogers' supporters, badly wanted to see the 27-year -old upstart beaten.
But Araujo, although unsettled by Rogers' comeback, kept fighting to reach 348, while Rogers was on 335 with his ball in hand. The luck was then against Rogers. After making an easy hazard off the white ball, the object ball was also pocketed thus leaving only the red on the table.
Rogers tried to baulk the red, failed and Araujo then scored on the red to clinch a remarkable victory.
Since that memorable night, Araujo proved to be a worthy champion. He defended and won the single and doubles, apart from remaining unbeaten as snooker champion and taking the "Champion of Champion" series.
During his long career, Araujo created breaks of 131, 125, 110, 99 and 95.
His fastest hundred on record is 12 minutes, fastest second 100 eight minutes and finished his fastest game over 250 points in 22 minutes.
He has been popular for his unique attacking style, always going for the shot. Araujo has been a favourite even with onlookers with no knowledge of the game. He is still considered a wizard of cannon play, and a most accurate snooker player.