Michael Ferreira
Born 1 October 1938 · Maharashtra
Winning the World Amateur Billiards Championship three times, starting in 1977.
🔔 Add birthday reminderMichael Ferreira, nicknamed "the Bombay Tiger", is an Indian amateur player of English billiards, and a three-time Amateur World Champion. He participated in the Indian National Billiards Championship in 1960 for the first time, and in 1964 represented India in the World Amateur Billiards Championship (WABC) held in New Zealand, where he progressed to the semi-finals. In 1977, he won his first World Amateur Billiards Champion title and followed it up with the World Open Billiards Championship title in the same year. He has two other WABC titles.
✨ A detail that surprised us
In 1978, Ferreira set an amateur world record by scoring 1,149 points in an Indian national billiards championship, breaking the 1,000-point barrier for the first time.
1. In 1960, Michael Ferreira made his debut at the Indian National Billiards Championship, marking the start of a career that would soon bring India to the world billiards stage.
2. 🌏 In 1964, representing India at the World Amateur Billiards Championship in New Zealand, Ferreira advanced to the semi-finals, a rare feat for an Indian player at the time.
3. 🏆 The year 1977 saw Ferreira clinching his first World Amateur Billiards Championship title and astonishingly also winning the World Open Billiards Championship, both in the same year.
4. In 1978, Ferreira became the first amateur to surpass 1,000 points during the national championships by scoring an unprecedented 1,149 points, setting a new amateur world record.
5. 🎖️ After winning his second world amateur title in 1981, Ferreira was awarded the Padma Shri but controversially refused it, arguing that his achievements deserved the Padma Bhushan like cricketer Sunil Gavaskar.
6. In 1983, his persistence paid off when he finally received the Padma Bhushan, becoming the first billiards player to be honored with this award following his third world amateur billiards title.
7. ❓ How did Michael Ferreira's defiance in award acceptance and his remarkable scoring feats reshape the recognition of cue sports in India and influence future generations of players?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅Arjuna Award
🔍 One thing most people don't know
In 1978, Ferreira was the first amateur billiards player to break the 1,000-point barrier in national championships, scoring 1,149 points and setting a new world amateur record.
🖼️ Through the Years
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📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
QNet case: EOW grills World Billiards Champion Michael Ferreira for 2 hrs
YouTube📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Michael Ferreira's multiple world amateur titles and record-breaking scores elevated English billiards' profile in India, inspiring the establishment of more structured coaching and competitive frameworks. His receipt of the Padma Bhushan brought unprecedented civilian recognition to cue sports, contributing to increased governmental and institutional support for billiards and snooker in India. As a coach honored with the Dronacharya Award in 2001, he influenced a generation of players, fostering India's continued presence in international billiards.
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