C:  Congratulations on winning your first U.S Open in 9-ball. That's a
nice complement to your U.S Open in 14.1. How does it feel to win
your first U.S. Open, a title that was high on your list of goals?
S:  Thank you. It just feels great. I believe no words can describe such a feeling, it's overwhelming. A dream became true.

C:  What got you started playing pool?
S:   My parents had a small pub with a 7 foot pool table and I was just
fascinated by the balls. My father was playing and he taught me the basics in the first couple of years.

C:  How long have you been playing pool?
S: I started in 1974 at the age of 6, so that makes it 28 years now.

C:  What do you like most about the game?
S: You always find new situations and problems to solve. It's never the same.

C:  Did you have any mentors or teachers?
S: At the beginning it was my father and at the age of 14 it was Horst
Vondenhoff, a long time president of the European Pocket Billiard Federation. Also Jim Rempe helped me with my game in 1989, when I visited him at his house in Scranton, PA. Besides them, there was nobody topmargin="0" marginheight="0" else.

C:  What do you consider to be the strongest part of your game?
S: I believe that I am mentally very strong. I never give up and fight until the end. To make the right decision in critical situations.

C:  Is there a part of your game that you feel needs the most improvement? If so, what would that be?
S: I think that the kicking part could be a lot better and needs most
 improvement.

C:  How much time do you spend practicing during the week of an event?
S:  I practice about 1 1/2 hours a day at the beginning of the week and at the end I am down to about 15-25 minutes before each match.

C:  When there is a break between tournaments do you continue to practice, or do you get away from the game for a while?
S: It depends on the length of the break. If it's only a few days and I had a successful tournament before I don't play. If the last tournament wasn't good enough, then I try to work on some details. If the time between events longer than two weeks, then I practice a little because it's better to be hungry than to be overpowered.

C:  How long have you been playing with a Joss Cue? What has it done for your game?
S: I am playing with my Joss Cue since May 1996 and I had the biggest achievements with it. It feels great and gives me the confidence you need to win matches and tournaments.

C:  You are constantly traveling to play in tournaments. How many events  in how many countries do you play in a typical year?
S: For example in 2001 I have played 35 tournaments in 13 different countries.

C:  You appear to be very relaxed and unemotional while playing. Does that help keep you on an even keel?
S: I try to be as relaxed as possible because then you make less mistakes. To find a good working rhythm is very important and helps a lot.

C:  Do you feel your opponents, who are used to looking for signs of weakness in their opponents, may become a little unnerved by your even disposition?
S: Showing no emotions isn't easy but makes your opponent think about you. That keeps them from concentration and focusing on their own game.

C:  Your routine is very methodical. It looks like you keep your eyes on the table at all times while you evaluate the information the balls provide to you. Is that a conscious process you have worked to develop? Does it help you stay focused?
S: As long as your eyes stay focused on what's happening on the table you are concentrated and able to play well. It's something I had the most success with in the past and works the best for me.

C:  Did you make any special preparations for this years open?
S: No. I had no time to do anything special. I have played in an European ranking tournament until one day before the Open started.

C:   What were the playing conditions like at this years open? Easy?
Difficult?
S: The conditions in Chesapeake are always tough because of the humidity. Berry Behrman keeps the conference center as cool as possible and we Europeans are not used to play in such cold  and humid conditions. That makes it really difficult.

C:  The soft break seems to create clusters around the head spot. Do you enjoy this kind of game?
S: I would rather see the hard break again. The reason for the soft break is that the nine ball is on the spot instead of the one ball.

C:  What was your toughest match on the way to the finals? What was your
key to victory in that match?
S: I think the toughest match was against Earl Strickland for three reasons. 1. Playing Earl in his living room is always tough ( he won the Open 5 times and plays always well there ) 2. It was a late night match, I was tired and thought this match was scheduled for the next day.  3. I was down 5-8 and came back to win it 11-8. The key for the success was that Earl was talking to himself and the crowd but I didn't let him get to me. I stayed focused without
listening to him and took the chances he gave me.

C:  Were there any special adjustments that you had to make for playing
on TV?
S: First of all we started very late. At the beginning everything was normal, then we got a 30 second shot clock with one extension per game. A few games later we had a 25 second shot clock without an extension and that was terrible. We had no time to readjust to the new rules and that caused many unforced errors.

C:  How did you handle the pressure playing on PPV against a hot  shooting opponent while trying to win a title you wanted so much?
S: I think the pressure was there for both of us. I was the more experienced player in front of TV cameras and that fact made me confident. On the other hand was I the favorite and it seemed that only I could lose and he could win.

C:  Against Pagulayan you started off hot running several racks. Then the match turned into a nerve racking battle of safeties and kick shots. What were you thoughts as Pagulayan cut into your lead and eventually crept ahead 11-10?
S: For a short moment I though that I had given it away. I had many chances and couldn't take advantage of it. But something in my mind told me that I will get another chance and that I better take it, because it's the best opportunity ever to win the U.S. Open.

C:  What were you thinking before and after the kick shot in the 22nd game that changed the whole complexion of the match?
S:  There was no time to think before the kick shot. I wanted to make it in the side but fortunately it went in the corner pocket and had good shape on the six ball. After the shot I told to myself that this is the chance that I was hoping for to win this match.

C:  You are considered to be one of the finest ambassadors for the  sport. Does that help you to win the support of the crowd? Are you so focused during a match that you are even aware of the crowd?
S: I hope that it helps to get more fans. My game is not as fast and spectacular as other players' game and therefore it's harder anyway. I don't think about the crowd while I am playing. I try to stay focused on my game and be aware of the fact that you don't get a price for nice playing, just for winning.

C:   You travel the world playing pool. Which country has the most vocal fans, the most appreciative fans, the best behaved fans, and the most knowledgeable fans? 
S:   Vocal: Taiwan. Appreciation: Taiwan, Philippines, Japan, and USA. Best behavior: Japan.  Knowledge: USA

C:  What lies ahead for Ralf Souquet? Now that you've met most all of your goals are you going to continue circling the globe playing tournaments for the foreseeable future?
S: Yes, I will continue to travel around the world and do what I love: play pool.  I still have a lot of goals to achieve. There are still tournaments and countries where I haven't won. Another goal is to make the sport bigger and more popular.