Billiard Life USA recently caught up with the "Iceman" Mika Immonen shortly after his victory at the 2008 All Japan Championships. Mika was kind enough to do a little Q&A session with us.

BL:  Hi Mika. Welcome and congratulations. How's it feel to be the 2008 US Open Champion as well as the 2008 All Japan Open Champion?

MI:  It feels great. The US Open and the All Japan Championship are two titles that I really wanted to win as these two titles have also been haunting me for a while. I've finished 2nd 4 times at the All Japan Championships and there's my 11-0 lost to Corey Deuel in the 2001 US Open finals. It's nice to finally break through and win them. I still can't believe it.

BL:  Was winning these events a goal of yours at the start of the year?

MI:  My goal is to win at least one major every season. I would like to have a repeat opportunity to win the World Championships and the US Open in the same year which I almost did in 2001. I also wanted to prove that I belong back on the Mosconi Cup team.

BL:  And winning the US Open got you invited back on the team.

MI:  Yes, it did and I'm looking forward to the Mosconi Cup in Malta as well as the Philippines vs. the World team event in December. I plan on finishing up the year strong.

BL:  What are you doing now to get ready for these events?

MI:  Practicing and working on my game. I also remember to give myself some down time. I try and have a good balance on everything, a good cycle, and I think its help me to stay very consistent.

I actually feel like I am just about to hit my prime and I expect it to last at least a good 15 years. 35-50 is a very good age to play pool. I make sure I stay in good shape by running and going to the gym regularly. I treat myself more like an athlete, not just a pool player, and this does give me an edge compared to many players out there.

BL:  Your first major title was the 2001 World Championships. Was winning that event the confirmation you needed to know that you have what it takes to play at the highest level of competition?

MI:  The confirmation has to proceed winning such an event.

I was undeniably the best player that week in Cardiff (Wales, where the 2001 World Championship took place) and many of my peers told me so.

BL:  How did you first get into pool?

ML:  They opened a poolroom 2 blocks from where I lived in Finland. My twin brother, some friends and I discovered it one night on our way to play some ice hockey. The billiard tables, balls and lights immediately captured my attention. I was about 15 at the time. It happened to also be on the path home from school. I spent a lot of time there watching the old guys as they played Kaisa.

BL:  Kaisa?

ML:  Kaisa is the Finnish version of Russian Billiards. It's also known as Karoliina.

I actually got quite good at Kaisa. When I was 17 I played a Russian champion. He missed the opening shot and then I ran 60 points on him. 60 points is rare, some people who played all their lives have never run 60 points, and for a kid that age to do it in a tournament was incredible...I got mentioned in the newspapers for it.

BL:  What about Snooker? Snooker seems to be the game a lot of Europeans learn first before becoming pool players.

MI:  I was concentrating on snooker for a while and was in the Junior Championships in Finland. In December 1991 I had my snooker cue stolen from the club. I was so dishearten over it. I had a really hard time replacing that cue. It had a "special feel" to it. But, because of this, I started to play more pool.

BL:  And from there?

MI:  From there...in January 1992 I was chosen to play on a 3 man Finnish Team competing in Austria. I was the 8-ball player as I had already won an 8-ball championship by then.

In Austria I won all 7 matches, including a match against Ralf Souquet, without a loss and I was chosen MVP of the tournament.

It was the first time I had a taste of success playing against the top level European players. It inspired me to stick with pool and to try and maximize my potential in the game.

BL:  Please, continue.

MI:  In the spring of 1992 I played in my first ever Euro Tour in Belgium and won the 9-ball tournament beating Tom Storm. I lost the first 2 sets but came back and won the last 3 sets.

Storm, along with guys like Souquet and Engert, were people whose game I studied so beating Storm in that tournament was a big win for me.

After that, I went to the Sweden International which drew all the big stars from around the world. From America were Archer, Strickland, Davenport and from Asia were Efren Reyes and Bustamante. It was the first time I ever met Reyes and Bustamante in person.

I won my first match and played Strickland in the 2nd round. He was already loud back then and distracted me during my match which I ended up losing.

It was an exciting tournament for me. I was able to watch all these superstars, compare myself to them and see how far I could go against them. It gave me motivation to work really hard on my game.

BL:  1992 seems to have been a big year for you.

MI:  1992 was interesting. In the Fall I was able to travel to Taiwan to play in a tournament. It was my first time in Asia and, with a 64 player field, I was able to win my group. I ended up playing Johnny Archer for the first time ever. I was ahead a couple of racks in the beginning but he ended up beating me.

I didn't have a lot of experience and knowledge back then and I felt like I had chances but felt nervous. I knew I had talent but needed to learn more about the game and you can never be too strong mentally.

That tournament convinced me to play professional pool.

BL:  When was your first trip to the US?

ML:  First time I came to the US was in January of 96. I played in a tournament in Santa Rosa, California. It was a BCA ESPN Event. I made it through the preliminary rounds but lost in the TV match because I was too nervous. I couldn't play my game! Took me a couple of TV matches before I was finally use to it and could play my game.

BL:  What was your most exciting win?

MI:  I think it would have to be my match against Efren Reyes in the Philippine Open Finals after I had just beaten Bustamante in the Semi's. I was down 10-4 to Efren and I managed to creep my way back into the match. I eventually won 13-12. Beating Efren on his own soil...that's pretty sweet.

BL:  Who was player that influenced you the most?

MI:  Earl Strickland. Earl is a totally different animal on the table. He's so aggressive and such an offensive minded player. His patterns all make a lot of sense and he's got a great flow for the game. When he's on—he's ON.

Earl visited Finland in 1993 during a Cuetec Exhibition tour. I had a chance to meet him and play him. He remembers me from that time.

BL:  Which young player has impressed you the most?

MI:  I'd have to say Wu Chia Ching. He's so young and has already some impressive titles. For his age he has a lot of knowledge and creativity.

BL:  Do you work with a coach?

MI:  Well when I was in Finland I was working with a coach for my mental game, he was kind of a controversial character, but for my pool game? No. I am the first generation of pool players in Finland so I had to learn everything for myself. I pick up things from people and see if they if it worked for me or not.

BL:  How did you get your nickname "Iceman"?

MI:  Matchroom needed me to have a nickname and they were going to call me the "Flying Fin" or some other silly name. I got the nickname from the Val Kilmer character from Top Gun—and being from Finland I thought it fit.

BL:  How would you describe yourself?

MI:  I'd describe myself as calm, determined, competitive...and goofy.

BL:  So what do you do when you not playing pool?

MI:  I read. I run and go to the gym a lot. I do some occasional partying but everything in moderation.

BL:  If you didn't become a professional pool player what do you think you would be doing?

MI:  I don't know but probably something competitive. Maybe a professional runner? I just love competing and that pursuit of excellence. It's the pursuit of excellence that drives me. I am a very competitive person and I enjoy the challenges so it would be some other type of competitive sport.

BL:  What do you love about pool?

MI:  In pool you can use your imagination. One of the greatest compliments I received was from a random guy who said "watching you play is like listening to Mozart." It's like creating art. It's the art of pool.

Mika Immonen is proudly sponsored by: Mezz Cues, Ota Enterprises, Cafe Puro, Brunswick

Read Mika Immonen's blog at www.icemanmika.blogspot.com

Buy Mika Immonen's Instructional DVD at www.mastering-pool.com