Prancing around an Edgware pub half-naked is probably not the wisest way to spend a Tuesday night.

But that was precisely the forfeit awaiting me when, in a moment of male pride, I challenged the world's fastest pool player to a quick frame at the Mason's Arms pub in High Street, Edgware.

"If she eight-balls the men, one of the things she does is makes them take their trousers off but don't worry, it's not the full monty," explained her amused PR assistant.

I was beginning to have second thoughts as I stepped up to the table to break. After all, Sue Thompson is the UK's top-ranking female pool player and holds the Guinness World Record for speed pool after clearing all 15 balls in just 37.7 seconds.

My heart sank as a red ball bounced off the middle pocket to safety from the break.

"I've been the fastest pool player since 1996 and no-one has come close to beating me," enthused Thompson, 33, in her broad Scouse accent.

"I have won the Embassy ladies' world championship four times and I was about 17 when I originally had the record for speed pool but I have broken it a number of times since."

Three yellow balls had gone down before I was allowed to visit the table again for a simple red to the middle. "I'll let you have an easy one," Thompson laughed.

According to a MORI poll commissioned by pub chain Qs, just five per cent of people think women make better pool players than men. However, Thompson, who began playing at 15, said she has always commanded the respect of her male opponents.

"I had a gift and blokes took it really well," she said. "I used to play at men's professional tournaments and beat all the top players.

"They do give the women a lot of respect now because the women's game is just as good as the men's in tournaments."

Best boxer shorts or not, I was relieved to have three balls left on the table when Thompson potted the black to win the frame. But somehow I don't think she was at her best. Maybe she had heard about my chicken legs.

January 29, 2003 19:00