Sandor Tot Interview

By Tony Annigoni

Tony: How old are you Sandor ?

Sandor: 31

Tony: What nationality are you originally ?

Sandor: Yugoslavian

Tony: Where was your home town?

Sandor: Novisad, (pronounced - Na Vi Sad } - Yugoslavia

Tony: How were you affected by the war in Yugoslavia?

Sandor: I spent the war years from age 21 to 29 in Hungary, in Szeged. ( pronounced - Sa Ged) All the Bridges were destroyed in Novisad.

Tony: When and why did you first start playing pool?

Sandor: I started playing mainly social pool on bar tables at age 15.

Tony: What was the game of choice in Yugoslavia?

Sandor: Last Pocket 8 Ball.

Tony: When did you first start gambling?

Sandor: I first started gambling after playing for about 3 years.

Tony: Did you have a stake horse or did you bet your own money?

Sandor: Initially friends assisted me, but primarily I bet my own.

Tony: What was considered a large bet in Yugoslavia ?

Sandor: When the country was combined it was common to play last pocket for $ 100 a game.

Tony: When I was in Germany, prior to Playing off the Rail, there was talk of Yugoslavians playing last pocket for large money at the train station in Munich, Germany. Did you ever play and gamble there?

Sandor: Yes. As a matter of fact I beat one of the best players and well known gamblers, Roman Hubler out of 12,000 deutschmarks. (about $6,000 american)

Tony: What was the largest score you have made?

Sandor: I beat a guy named Ahim, in Aheen, Germany out of 16,000 deutschmarks ( about $8,000 american). Aheen is close to the Netherlands border.

Tony: I had heard that the crowd at the train station was a tough one. What was your experience?

Sandor: In general Yugoslavians are easy to play with, and like to gamble.

Tony: How and when did you make the transition from bar box to big table?

Sandor: In Ubriana, Slovenia. I played in a room that had six Brunswick Century Tables. I played in a tournament there and finished second. I later won a qualification tournament to play in the European Championship in Innsbruck, Austria where I beat Bert Yenka, a well known European player.

Tony: What are the current goals you have set for your career?

Sandor: I would like to win a World Championship. I have achieved an earlier goal of winning a European Championship last year.

Tony: When did you start playing 9 ball?

Sandor: In Slovenia, after watching "The Color of Money". I played my friend Donas Dzindaric and I beat him 9 to 3. I actually made the nine on the break 4 times using an open bridge !

Tony: What American players have you played for money?

Sandor: Jarrod Clowery from Massachusetts. It has been difficult to get a game in America. It is either very large money or not at all. I also played Jerry Watson from Canada. I was the winner in both cases.

Tony: What obstacles do you presently face in attaining your career goals?

Sandor: My visa is about to expire but I plan to go back to Budapest and return with a 2 year visa soon. To be successful in America, among other things I will need a sponsor that will help defray expenses. While the tournament scene is stronger in America, I feel I can win more money in Europe gambling right now. There is action that is steady in Italy along the Adriatic Coast and I hope to spend some time there when I go back.

Tony: Have you ever had a job?

Sandor: Not to speak of, but I owned a 6 table pool room for about three years.

Tony: Do you believe in Vampires?

Sandor: That's Romania. If you go on the road there make sure you have a wooden stake in your case!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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This interview was conducted by Tony Annigoni for AzBilliards and BetonPool.com at the Trump 10 ball Challenge in Atlantic City.

Sandor Tot expressed his thanks to Scott Smith of Have Cue Will Travel, Tom Dennehy, a personal friend from Woodsville, Massachusetts, and Dan Dishaw of Dan Dishaw Handcrafted Cues, for their support in his assault on America.

 

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Photo courtesy of Diana Hoppe - Pool Pics by Hoppe