For Japanese number one Naoyuki Oi, the real battle isn’t always on the table. It’s an endless, exhausting loop across the globe chasing the dream. It’s airport terminals, hotel rooms and long-haul flights that blur one tournament into another.
Oi has now been travelling back and forth from his native Japan for more than two decades. Boarding flights to various destinations has become second nature to him, as he vies to follow in the footsteps of Japanese world champions Takeshi Okumura, Kunihiko Takahashi and Yukio Akakariyama.
“It’s basically the same feeling as touring Japan. At first, Japan felt huge and I thought it was tough, but gradually it became normal,” Oi told Billiards Days. “Similarly, thankfully, travelling the world has now become normal for me, and my awareness of being in that position has become clearer.
“My desire to win has grown stronger because of that. Being able to keep competing overseas is truly a blessing and winning would make me even happier. Many people are rooting for my victory, so this year I’m determined to meet those expectations.”
Perhaps the physical toll is an obvious one but the mental strain cuts just as deep, yet Oi’s everlasting cycle remains a worthwhile one. “If you ask whether it’s tough or enjoyable, the tough parts outweigh the enjoyable ones. I still realise I really do enjoy competing abroad,” Tokyo-born Oi added.
“This feeling… even when people ask me ‘How is it?’, I can’t quite put my finger on it myself, or express it in words. I often travel alone for these trips, so there’s a lot of time spent suffering or enduring things by myself.
“When I go with friends [Masato Yoshioka, Sakura Muramatsu or Kengo Suzuki] or when other Japanese players are there, it’s simply much easier and more enjoyable.
“But travelling with everyone isn’t necessarily the right answer, and it honestly doesn’t affect the results. Solo trips will likely become more frequent from now on, and I want to win while accepting the hardship and pain that comes with it.”
Most renowned for being a two-time World 10-Ball Championship runner-up, Oi experienced the elation of sealing success outside of his home country two years ago. That elusive title came at the Helsinki Open, the World Nineball Tour ranking event held in the Finnish capital, and arrived 19 years after he turned professional.
Oi still patiently awaits a sought-after major accolade, and last March’s European Open Championship in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the latest major tournament that he was within spitting distance of etching his name onto the silverware. His route included impressive wins over Jonas Souto Comino, Max Lechner and Daniel Maciol, although the final was a bridge too far against an imperious Joshua Filler.
“I didn’t feel that strongly about absolutely needing to win at the European Open,” Oi admitted. “I was just dead set on beating Daniel Maciol in the semi-finals, and that’s because he’d absolutely thrashed me in the final of the qualifying rounds.
“I could sense he was primed for the title, he was in peak form, so I thought, ‘If we meet again, I’ll get my revenge.’ I was determined to take him down. So I focused on bringing my best performance to the semi-final, and while I did get my revenge, I felt I’d completely drained myself there.”
Reflecting on his emphatic 13-1 loss to Filler in the final, Oi smiled, “It was hopeless. I overdid it in practice before the final, and then overcommitted in the match itself… Joshua, on the other hand, showed up at the practice table about 25 minutes beforehand like usual, practised briefly, and went straight into the match. That’s the composure of a champion really.
“I’d been practising for about an hour and a half,” he laughed. “Ultimately, it comes down to the difference in experience of how many major tournament finals you’ve played in. The guys above me, including Joshua, are just playing in world championship finals as part of their daily routine.
“It’s fascinating to see them up close like that, and I think if I could compete like that, I could still get much better and stronger, but the problem is, these guys keep getting stronger too, so it’s a real pain!”
Balancing the hassle of constant flights with the unwavering desire to compete as often as possible, Oi remains determined to give himself the best possible chance to finally capture a major title whilst staying sharp. He has been giving serious thought not just to how he plays, but to how he lives and travels as a touring professional.
Previewing another gruelling, intense year ahead, Oi said, “I’ll approach every match with the sole aim of winning, going all out to claim the title. I also simply want to compete in more tournaments than in 2025.
“Given my age, I think it’s better not to increase the number of times I return to Japan for health management reasons, meaning reducing travel frequency. When trying to compete in many international events, basing yourself in Japan inevitably leads to unnecessary travel.
“Staying abroad long-term makes you miss Japan and want to go back, but if the schedule is something like returning to Japan from America then heading back to Europe a few days later, then from both a physical management and expense perspective it’s actually better to just stay in America or Europe. I want to think about these aspects and travel the world more wisely this year.”
Quotes are translated from Japanese and via Billiards Days
