Sri Lanka’s first World Champion M.J.M. Lafir remembered

Recalling past memories, the first Sri Lankas world title winner, former World billiards champion M.J.M. Lafir remembered by Kandy’s cue sport lovers and a religious ceremony was held over here in Kandy.

He is the man who won the first world title for the country by winning the World Amateur Bililards Championship in Bombay in 1973, November.

He was victorious against all his opponents and also scored the highest break of 859. It is an achievement without parallel in the annals of sports in Sri Lanka. Prior to this pinnacle of success, Lafir had participated in international championships in Billiards and Snooker in Edinburgh, Scotland, Malta, and Auckland since 1970, but failed to win any of them. At the World Snooker tournament in Edinburgh, Scotland, in Oct-Nov 1970,MJM Lafir defeated I L Glozier (NZ), Paul Mifsud (Malta), John Clint (N Ireland), D Sneddon (Scotland), but lost to John Phillips (Scotland) and Sidney Hood (England).

At the World Amateur Billiards Championships in Valetta, Malta, in Nov 1971, Lafir finished fourth defeating D Sneddon (Scotland), Paul Mifsud (Malta), Lance Napper (New Zealand) and lost to Manuel Fransisco (South Africa) in the preliminary rounds. In Nov-Dec 1972, at the World Open Billiards Championship, held in Auckland, New Zealand, in which professionals as well as amateurs participated, Lafir lost to Clark McConachy (New Zealand), Eddie Charlton (Australia), Paddy Morgan (Ireland), Satish Mohan(India), Leslie Driffield (England) and Michael Ferreira (India) but won against C Everton (Wales), Jim Fryer (England), Kinsley Kennerly (England) and Jack Karneham (England) but failed to qualify for the final round.

So, it was in 1973 that he finally reached the pinnacle of his career by winning the World Amateur Billiards Championship in Bombay. He defeated Clive Everton (Wales), Michael Ferreira (India), LU Demarco (Scotland), Alfred Nolan (England), Satish Mohan(India), Eric Simons (New Zealand), Brian Kirkness (New Zealand), Phil Tarrant (Australia), and Paul Mifsud (Malta) and wrote his name in world sport, especially billiards.

On his return to Sri Lanka, after winning the World Amateur Billiards Championship, he was given a red carpet welcome on Dec 22, 1973. He was received and garlanded at the airport by the then Sports and Parliamentary Affairs Minister K.B Ratnayake, Minister of Finance Dr N.M Perera, Minister of Education Dr Badiuddin Mahmud, Minister of Transport Leslie Gunawardena, Deputy Speaker A Cader, Sir Razik Fareed and officials of the Cue Association and members of Moors Islamic Cultural Home (MICH). Lafir and his wife, Fathima Misriya, were paraded in a motorcade from the airport through the streets of Colombo where large crowds gathered to welcome him home. He was given a rousing welcome at the MICH Fort.

He also paid a courtesy call on President William Gopallawa, and Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, both of whom gave him a warm welcome. The Colombo Municipal Council accorded him a reception on December 31, 1973 presided over by Mayor Vincent Perera.

In January 1974 he was given a grand welcome in Kandy, and an exhibition billiard game was played between him and MSU Mohideen at the Trinity College hall. The Kandy Garden club table was removed and fixed at Trinity College hall for this event.

MJM Lafir was born on May 27, 1930 at St. Joseph’s Street, Grandpass and joined MICH in 1947 and was grateful to the MICH for discovering, nurturing and grooming him for big time in cue sport. He reigned supreme for 24 years between 1949 and 1973, he annexed the National Billiards title of Sri Lanka 16 times and the National Snooker title on 15 separate occasions.

He went across to India and won their National Snooker title on seven occasions from 1956 to 1976, defeating some of the Indian stalwarts. The Colombo Municipal Council re-named Messenger Street, as M.J.M. Lafir Mawatha, as a tribute to his contribution to the cue game.

He passed away on April 26th 1981, a month before his 51st birthday. So, when will another top cuiest will come from our country.

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