Professional pool player Elliott Sanderson at the Impulse Snooker & Billiards in Oud Metha, Dubai. EXPAT MEDIA

He didn’t grow up dreaming of trophies. In fact, Elliott Sanderson never even imagined becoming a professional pool player. But three and a half years ago, everything changed—and today, the 30-year-old from the UK is ranked World No. 55 in the World Nineball Tour (WNT), competing against the world’s best, including here in Dubai. “Three and a half years ago I was just an amateur,” Sanderson shared in an exclusive interview with Expat Media in Dubai. “I think the progression in the last three years has been really positive. I’m hoping that this year I can break the top 30.” Sanderson is currently competing in the Knight Shot Open – WNT Nineball Tournament, joining a lineup of top-tier cue artists from around the globe. It’s his second tournament appearance in Dubai—and his third visit to the city overall. “I’m really excited to be here again,” he said. “I came here twice on holiday and last year for the tournament. I’m happy to be back.”

A quiet beginning to a loud career

Unlike many of his peers who picked up a cue stick before they could read, Sanderson’s pool journey began later—and unexpectedly. “I wasn’t that young, I think I was 13,” he said. “You hear of people playing when they were like 8 or 9. I wasn’t late, but I wasn’t super, super young.” Before pool, Sanderson was more focused on football. But everything changed when a friend from school invited him to play a few frames at a local club. “I played a couple of times with them and I kind of got hooked. I was playing English pool back then—you know, with the reds and yellows,” he explained. What began as a casual hobby turned into a serious pursuit. Though Sanderson didn’t initially see pool as a career, he found himself increasingly immersed in the game until it became clear that he belonged on the pro circuit. “It’s something I never dreamt of pursuing as my career. I never envisioned it to turn that way—but lucky for me, it turned out that way the last couple of years.”

Cueing up in Dubai

Sanderson has a soft spot for Dubai, and he’s not shy about praising the city’s pool scene—especially the strong Filipino presence among local players. “There’s quite a lot of players here, particularly the Filipino contingent who live here,” he noted. “I like it. It’s a good place.” With nineball pool now enjoying a surge in global popularity, Sanderson is eager to continue building on his momentum. “Nineball seems to be in a good place and I’m happy to be part of it,” he said. “Right now, the goal is just to be the best version of me.” PIA/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page