Viraj Keswani  ’29 

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Strake Jesuit’s very own Shane Petrick ’ 28 recently competed in the World Billiards Championship and placed 16th in the Under-18 category! 

“At the world championship,” Shane said, “I played Haider Ali Yaqoub from Bahrain. He is reported as the best junior player in the Middle East. We went hill-to-hill, and I was on the 9 ball and cut a super-thin slice from frozen to the bottom rail. I hit it with perfect speed, perfect line . . . and it hung right in the heart of the pocket, leaving it for Haider to take it and make an easy 10 for the win.” 

Shane’s passion for billiards started only three years ago, when he was 12. 

“My dad had bought a table for me and my brother at the house to just play around on,” Shane recalled, “After about a week, I couldn’t stop playing. I had become addicted to getting better at each part of the game, and trying each day to beat my dad.” A couple of months later, Shane began to play competitively, joining the H-Town Central chapter of USA Pool League. 

“I joined in enough time,” Shane said, “to qualify for the national tournament in Vegas the next spring. At this tournament, I realized that I had found my passion, and that I was exactly where I was meant to be.” 

Since then, playing tournament billiards has taken Shane to places like Spain, Puerto Rico, and Kentucky, to name a few. 

During the school week, Shane practices at least one hour a day and often three to four hours a day on weekends. He aims to continue to improve and compete at the highest level he can until college, when he will decide if he wants to commit to becoming a full-time professional pool player. “If not,” Shane assessed, “I’ll just play it on the side as much as I can.” 

What inspires Shane’s dedication to playing pool? “There is something special about the game,” he stated. “When you step up to take a shot, everything else fades out. It becomes just you, the cue ball, and the perfect angle you are trying to achieve. Pool isn’t about strength or speed; it’s about thinking ahead and staying calm. One bad shot can mess up your whole plan and even the whole tournament. Pool teaches you to stay focused, control your emotions, and think before you act. It rewards discipline and practice.” 

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