Well, after losing our first match in scotch, Mike and I won four more on the loser’s side to limp into the cash at 17th-24th. I’m really disappointed with our final match. I completely hit a brick wall and ran out of steam. I lost the match for us. At hill-hill, they broke dry and I missed an opening combination. I made a bad decision, but I was so exhausted my head was spinning and my brain hurt. I don’t know if I would’ve lasted the three more matches scheduled if we would’ve won that one.
In the meantime, the World Pool Masters event wrapped up last night. Starting off with 16 invited players; Alex beat Mika in the finals. It was a tough loss for Mika. He was up 6-4 in a race to 8 and after a solid break, didn’t get four balls past the side pocket??? Some wacky rule they use to ensure the players don’t try to soft break. Mika lost his turn at the table and Alex ran the next two racks. That was the turning point of the match. Final score: 8-6.
I won my first three matches in the singles. My first match Saturday night was against a sweet lady that barely made the Masters cut last year (I heard her telling someone). She did not play well at all and it was hard work for me to stay focused.
My second match Sunday was against a tough player I knew from Minnesota. Honestly, she outplayed me that match. I didn’t run one single rack and I surely was not playing well. I broke five times; two dry breaks and three scratch breaks. That’s completely unacceptable! Meanwhile, she broke in three 8 balls (fortunately, that’s not an automatic win in BCA) and ran a couple racks. She played well, but took a very long time to decide on each shot. I think these are my toughest opponents. I begin speeding up and making careless decisions. Then, I jaw up balls and it takes her forever to figure out how to get out. Ugh… In the end, a little luck and shot-making helped me pull through.
I played immediately afterwards on one of the front tables this time, also known as “the pit.” It’s the area they set up for the finals with spectator seating. These tables have not been used as much and were lightning fast. The pockets felt a little tighter. We both hung up a few balls, but if you hit them with good speed, they still wriggled in the pocket. I finally played well this match and made smart decisions. I was really happy about that.
I’ve been pretty fortunate that most of my matches so far have been in the main tournament room. The table conditions are getting worse and worse in the back room. Since the 9-ball challenge was held back there, along with late night mini tournaments, the tables and pool balls have been getting dirtier and it’s really been affecting the way things react.
I ended up losing my fourth match last night to my friend from the Hunter tour, Kyu Yi. She started of a little shaky, but finished strong. I expected to play again right away, but unfortunately, had a 9a.m. match this morning instead.
I felt great going into my early match. I usually play well in these early morning matches. After being down 3-0, I came back to 4-3 but unfortunately made two atrocious errors that would cost me the match. She was obviously not an 8 ball player at all. She couldn’t pick apart a rack and had no idea what to do with her trouble balls. The only way she could win was if I gave her a back door out, which I did.
In the final game, I thought she was on the hill and that it was over but when I realized that it only put her on the hill, it gave me new life. I was ready to really bear down and come back. I broke them wide open and made a ball, got the perfect break out angle on my opening shot, and as I bust into my only trouble I could’ve just puked while I watched the 8 ball just trickle into the side pocket… L It was a painful, disappointing loss. Who knows what would’ve happened, but I was ready to find out.
Lots going on today: singles and scotch finals, day 1 of the Predator 10 Ball event, and final day of the Alex and Shane TAR race-to-100. I think I’ll be busy.
Man in the Arena
It is not the critic who counts:
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or
where the doer of deeds could have done better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood,
who strives valiantly,
who errs and comes up short again and again,
because there is no effort without error or shortcoming,
but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions,
who spends himself for a worthy cause;
who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement,
and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls
who knew neither victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt,
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
A super classy response from my “slow” Minnesota opponent:
“I’m giggling about your comments on our match~ I’ve NEVER made 3 eight ball breaks in a row in my entire life, so we both witnessed something I would bet impossible. Sorry I took so long to shoot, I never play 8 ball. That being said, having too many balls on the table with a couple of choices will really put me in a tizzy. Arrgh!! You played super and handled the pressure really well.”
Guess people actually do read this thing…
Hey Samm, I’m actually from Des Moines, Iowa. I was thinking about adopting Minnesota as my home state though, maybe sneak in under the radar… hmmm. But since I don’t like water I can’t see through and have a distinct fear of bridges, I will just stay put.
I agree completely with you on the “lack of class” that vnea brings to the nationals. It doesn’t pay much to win masters, bad equippment, etc. From my experience it seems like a big beer fest. I hope we can stay in touch, maybe get together sometime you are near and play some “quick” 8ball. See ya!