Name : Micheal Ferreira

Discipline: Notable amateur player of English billiards

Date of Birth: October 1, 1938

State: Maharashtra

Achievements:

- Won the World Billiards Championship four times
- In December 1978, created history by becoming the first amateur to make a 1000 point break in billiards
- In the year 1981 Ferreira again won the World Amateur Billiards Championship

- Bestowed with the Padma Bhusan award in the year 1983.
- Michael had won Maharashtra Government’s Shiv Chhatrapati Award in the year 1970
- Arjuna Award in the year 1971.

Profile:

Michael Ferreira is an Indian Billiards player and famous for having won the World Billiards Championship four times. Apart from being a great player, Michael has been well known for a true rebellion who has always pleaded equal facilities and encouragement to other sports and games as well apart from Cricket.

During his teenage, he got interested into the game of billiards and in the years to come, began playing the game seriously. He received his education at St. Joseph’s Public School, Darjeeling. Further, he studied at the St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai and pursued a Degree Course in Law at the prestigious Government Law College; Mumbai. He is a Lawyer by profession.

Ferreira began playing Billiards at the age of 16 years in the year 1954, and made his debut into the National Billiards Circuit in the year 1960 when he participated in the National Billiards Championship.

He made his debut into the International Billiards Circuit in the year 1964 when he represented the nation in the World Amateur Billiards Championship held at New Zealand. Ferreira finished 3rd at the tournament by a minute margin of just 6 points.

He managed to clinch his first World Amateur Billiards Championship title in the year 1977, held at Melbourne. He made a highest break of 519 at the tournament. After this, he continued his march to success at the World Open Billiards Championship held at Christchurch, New Zealand where he won a yet another Gold Medal.

Michael wrote a new chapter in the history of Indian Billiards when he became the first amateur player to surpass the 1000 points barrier in the National Billiards Championship held in December 1978.

Popularly known as “Bombay Tiger”, Michael Ferreira has been a rebellious player who has always advocated equal attention and encouragement towards all the sports disciplines on the Government’s and Sponsors’ side. He famously refused to accept the Padma Shri award being offered by the Government of India upon his winning the World Billiards Championship in 1981.