M.J.M. Lafir brought Billiards glory to Sri Lanka

By Hafiz Marikkar

Sri Lankan M.J.M. Lafir won the first ever prestigious trophy for the country in the World Amateur Billiards Championship in November - December 1973 in Bombay in a round robin contest against Indian Satish Mohan. Lafir also scored the highest break of 859, in 49 minutes and 47 seconds, an achievement without parallel in the annals of Sports in Sri Lanka. It was the first World title in any field for this country.

It was truly a fine performance, at a time when scant respect was paid for sports. Sportsmen received pittance and less recognition for their performances. He also holds many records in the Sri Lankan and Indian Billiards and Snooker Championships which no Sri Lankan or Indian has been able to break up to now.

'MJM' made all this in a very short period. He was a master of the green table.

At an age of 12, Lafir mastered the sport, learned his craft by using broomstick for a cue, at the home dining table, used marbles for balls, cycle tubes for cushions and sarong as the cloth. Inspired by his father, M.J.M. Lafir pursued his passion and perfected his art of play. At the age of 18, he was playing professional sport and earned the national championship in 1948.

From then on, he never looked back. He went on to win the National Snooker Championship seventeen times, and the Billiards Championship 16 times in a short spell. He was also the All Indian Snooker and Billiards Champion.

Overcome all odds

In 1973 - November-December he overcame all odds, defeating strong contenders of the world cue table. His excellent performance and display crowned him the World Billiard Champion. It was his attacking nature and his trade mark cuing that won him the World Title.

It is a victory that lingers in the memory of every Sri Lankan cueist. He was offered many financial incentives, including property and cars, but he remained a true Sri Lankan, turning down all offers.

M.J.M. Lafir will be remembered as a legend in green blaze, tantalizing opponents with his fine moves and achieving performance where others failed.

Lafir - name will live in the memory of all billiard fans as he played for so long. No other cueist dominated the game as M.J.M. Lafir did in the sport. He retained the title for twenty four years between 1949 and 1973, annexed the National Billiards title sixteen times and the National Snooker title on seven occasions.

He beat Indian stalwarts as Wilson Jones in 1961 and Arvin Savur in 1974 and 1975. He crowned all these achievements by winning the World Amateur Billiard Championship in `1973 in the month of November - December.

M.J.M. Lafir was born on 27th of May 1929 at Messenger Street and died on April 26th 1981. After his death, the Colombo Municipal Council re-named Messenger Street, as M.J.M. Lafir Mawatha, that was a tribute to him from the late Frouse Saheed and some of the Billiards and Snooker Association members.

His club MICH conducts a cue tournament in his memory.

Billiards has been played in Sri Lanka from almost the beginning of the last century and people recognised this game with great enthusiasm and some caution.

After the World Billiards Champion a date stamp was issued in his honour when he won the World Billiards Title in 1973.