For most of us pool is game played in a pub, often with schooner in hand, while catching up with mates at the end of the working week.
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But there'll be no such light-hearted treatment of the game at the Harmonie German Club in Narrabundah over the next week, as 212 of the nation's best pool sharks descend on the ACT for the national 8 Ball Championships. it is the first time the event has been held in the territory in nearly a decade.
On day two of the competition, state representatives in bright shirts emblazoned with fiery eight balls pace under dim lights, watched by Ian "Mongrel" Will, captain of the ACT Masters team.
Mr Will has been playing pool for 50 years and is the owner of On Cue, which supplies pool tables and accessories used in most of the Canberra clubs.
Despite Mr Will's international success in over 20 years of playing competitively, he had already been knocked out of the singles competition.
"It's a very high standard, its cutthroat," he said.
Mr Will wears his love of the sport on his sleeve, literally, with an eight ball tattooed onto his forearm. He thinks the sport flies under the radar of many people because they associate it with pubs.
"There're serious players, they're not all drunks- they are sportspeople you know? They are competitive participants."
He said his playing strategy revolved around having a positive attitude and getting into the right mental space to win.
"Your headspace in any sport, is a primary ingredient of being successful, undoubtedly. Your attitude and your psychology in your head," Mr Wills said.
"People come out here, who can play quite well, and they get into this arena and go to water because of pressure."
He said sometimes he tries to psyche out his opponent.
"There are tactical games that can become like chess."
ACT Eight Ball Association President Penny Foudoulis said the tension in the room was palpable.
"When the teams are playing, particularly the men- when the men get together, they are very loud, lots of cheering, the atmosphere is exciting."
She was hopeful the three ACT teams (fielding 29 competitors) would be successful against the best in the country.
"Historically the ACT hasn't been a dominant team, but I think this year, being in our hometown, we are able to have our strongest team represent and I think we will do really well."
The National Eight Ball Championships are being held at the Harmonie German Club in Narrabundah until the 18th of November.
