I always had belief in myself to win the worlds, but as the years went pass I begin to doubt if I'd ever win. I'm glad I proved myself wrong...

Philip ‘The Farmer’ Harrison has been playing pool since almost before he could walk. In around 30 years of playing, Philip has made a smooth, fairytale transition from potting balls on a 4ft wooden table in his parents’ living room, to reigning as the current World 8-ball Champion.

Philip wearing his Body Aid in the early years Click to enlarge

Philip was born severely deaf in an RAF Hospital in Ely, Cambridgeshire, to Mum Carol and Dad Selwyn. A childhood largely based outdoors, fishing and playing football with younger brother Courtney, hardly looked to be the typical way in which a future world champion would come of age, however Philip made the effort to hone his skills on a pool table from an early age, winning his local club championship for the first time at the tender age of 14.

Philip classes his selection for the Cambridgeshire pool team as a big turning point in his career, as it was the first time he realised how seriously and competitively the game was played at the top level. This new world of pool captivated the 17 year old prodigy, and Philip made his mind up to improve, and compete at the highest possible level. Three years followed of travelling across the country with the future England manager, Richard Ellis, with the object of playing in as many competitions as possible, and finally Philip made his entrance onto the biggest stage in October 1993.

Philips loved to fish, even at a very young age Click to enlarge

The Vauxhall Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth, saw the entrance of a young and hungry Cambridgeshire lad, and Philip remembers it well.

It was a great feeling to be there among the sport’s elite, but most of all I remember my tip falling off before my first match! It was quite an amazing feeling to reach the last 16 of that tournament, and I was determined to do better and better once I realized I could compete at that level."

Philip, pictured far right, during a school disco Click to enlarge

An international place followed soon after, with Phil earning an England place by finishing in the top eight players in East Anglia, in the English Pool Association county pool rankings. Eight years of representing his country included forays into such foreign climes as Malta, France and Jersey.

Among his biggest achievements in the game, Philip can count the 2009 Fosters World 8-ball Pool Championships, ten major tournament wins, and the inaugural China Classic, which was held in Beijing in 1999 and watched by 15 million television viewers. Philip has also competed in American style pool to a high level, including two World 9-ball Championship appearances, and also being selected as an IPT Professional in the first year of the ill-fated American 8-ball tour. At the time of the IPT being folded, Philip was ranked #82 by the International Pool Tour, and considers his time in the USA as being a good experience, allowing him to compete at a different discipline against some of the very best American and Filipino pool players on their own equipment.

With his brother, Courtney - Philip’ skill was evident from an early age Click to enlarge

Some of Philip’s finest moments have come away from the green baize, though, and he remembers fondly the experience of walking the Great Wall of China in 1999. Other momentous experiences include looking down from the very top of the Empire State Building, and looking up at the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. While in Brazil, Philip also went hang-gliding for the first time, and enjoyed the experience immensely.

When away from the table, Philip indulges one of his earliest passions whenever possible by fishing at some of the most famous lakes across the country and in France. His record catch is a 50lb mirror carp in France, and he hopes to go one better every time he fishes, but thinks this is a dream he may never fulfil. Philip now lives with his partner in Sutton, Cambridgeshire, and runs his own window cleaning business.

Article kindly written by Richard Wharton