Most Perfect 14.1 Run You've Seen on Video

JLW · **Most Perfect 14.1 Run You've Seen on Video -** 03-01-2007, 08:53 PM

What is the most technically perfect 14.1 run you have ever seen on video? I don't pretend to know a great deal about straight pool, but Mike Sigel's 150 and out against Mike Zuglan and Irving Crane's 150 and out against Joe Balsis stand out in my mind as two nearly perfect runs. Anyone have any others they would recommend as required viewing for straight pool fans?

sjm · 03-01-2007, 09:00 PM

Well, this one I saw live. In Sigel's 150 against Zuglan at the 1992 US Open, he gets out of line exactly once and cruises to 150, with Jimmy Caras and Willie Mosconi watching from the front row. This run has often been acclaimed as a picture of technical excellence and elegance.

Zuglan's now legendary comment when the match ended was "I need to work on my lag."

sjm · 03-01-2007, 09:12 PM

Another technically superior run was Ralf Souquet's 120-something in the semi-finals of the 2000 BCA 14.1 championships against Efren Reyes.

StraightPoolIU · 03-01-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjm

Well, this one I saw live. In Sigel's 150 against Zuglan at the 1992 US Open, he gets out of line exactly once and cruises to 150, with Jimmy Caras and Willie Mosconi watching from the front row. This run has often been acclaimed as a picture of technical excellence and elegance.

Zuglan's now legendary comment when the match ended was "I need to work on my lag."

I've watched that tape many times, and I don't see how a run gets much better than that. 1. Sigel does it in 1 inning from the break 2. there are no banks in it 3. there are very few combinations 4. he only has to come with a tough shot 1 time that i remember when he is forced to back-cut the 5 ball uptable. I didn't know Caras and Mosconi were watching that when it happend. Talk about pressure.

Gerry · 03-02-2007, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StraightPoolIU

I've watched that tape many times, and I don't see how a run gets much better than that. 1. Sigel does it in 1 inning from the break 2. there are no banks in it 3. there are very few combinations 4. he only has to come with a tough shot 1 time that i remember when he is forced to back-cut the 5 ball uptable. I didn't know Caras and Mosconi were watching that when it happend. Talk about pressure.

I see it a little differently. I don't think Mike felt pressure, I think he wanted to put on a stellar performance for 2 of the greatest living legends. I think he showed confidence more than anything during that match. I also watch that match at least once a month!

Gerry

bruin70 · 05:59 AM

miz beating sigel. i forget when,,,maybe the year orttman won. don't know. what's technically perfect? simplest pattern?,,,easiest shots?,,,something that makes the most sense to me?,,,

JLW · 03-02-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruin70

miz beating sigel. i forget when,,,maybe the year orttman won. don't know. what's technically perfect? simplest pattern?,,,easiest shots?,,,something that makes the most sense to me?,,,

Well, let me put it this way. It appeared to me that Sigel only made 1 or 2 shots that entire run that didn't turn out exactly the way he wanted them to. The earlier comment about confidence applies too I think. He just seemed to be on auto-pilot. It was really an incredible run. The first time I saw it, I was blown away.

poolplayer2093 · 03-02-2007, 10:13 AM

i've got a tape of efren reyes running 147 in a race to 150 against dallas west. dallas west didn't give up though he fought back with some great safety play

eales · 03-02-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjm

Another technically superior run was Ralf Souquet's 120-something in the semi-finals of the 2000 BCA 14.1 championships against Efren Reyes.

I agree with this one. Ralf Souquet runs 28 & misses position on the break. He plays safe & Reyes wins the battle. Reyes runs 40+ and misses, I think. Souquet is absolutely perfect running out. I can't recall one hard shot.

Jim Eales

DJKeys · 03-02-2007, 11:47 AM

He also has to break out two tied up balls on the upper side rail. He has very few balls left with which to do it, but he gets them separated and the run continues. Fabulous run.

JLW · 03-02-2007, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJKeys

He also has to break out two tied up balls on the upper side rail. He has very few balls left with which to do it, but he gets them separated and the run continues. Fabulous run.

Yes, I rank that run and Ronnie O'Sullivan's fastest recorded 147 as the two most impressive pool related feats I've ever witnessed.

Vahmurka · 03-02-2007, 04:58 PM

And it's just amazing when Grady Mathews, one of doing commentary for Sigel vs Zuglan match, describes what is to be done and Sigel performs it hust like Grady suggests. Great game, great run, great commentary.

In regard with commentary I remember hilarious moment from Souquet's run. Ralf leaves a key ball (next to break ball on the same rail) and DannyD starts saying "Oh I don't like what he's doing, I don't like the way..." and is forced to interrupt by what he watches "Oh, what a shot!!!" Souquet made several breaks like that one later I think and Danny didn't blame him for that any more

sjm · 03-03-2007, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruin70

miz beating sigel. i forget when,,,maybe the year orttman won. don't know. what's technically perfect? simplest pattern?,,,easiest shots?,,,something that makes the most sense to me?,,,

I don't think Miz would have played Sigel the year Ortmann won, because, if memory serves, that would be 1993, the year of the boycott by many of the top players, including both Miz and Sigel. As Sigel went undefeated in the 1992 Straight Pool Championships and there was no championship in 1991, more likely is that the match to which you refer occurred in the 1990 Straight Pool Championships won by Bobby Hunter.

Technically perfect, to me, means the racks were run with adherence to the most basic principles of running balls at straight pool: a) clearing the rails early, b) unlocking blocked pockets, c) minimal short side position, d) avoidance of long and/or difficult shots, and e) very easy end patterns involving minimal cue ball movement due to accurate planning.

Tommy-D · **Most Perfect 14.1 Run You've Seen on Video -** 03-04-2007, 12:26 AM

> I'm with you there,Sigel's 2nd 150-out against Zuglan has and always will be a source of inspiration for me,as flawless as can be. His other one,against Rempe in '89,is also a personal fave. He really shows heart and balls in this one,to come up with the shots he did to keep the run going. Tommy D.

StraightPoolIU · 03-04-2007, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy-D

> I'm with you there,Sigel's 2nd 150-out against Zuglan has and always will be a source of inspiration for me,as flawless as can be. His other one,against Rempe in '89,is also a personal fave. He really shows heart and balls in this one,to come up with the shots he did to keep the run going. Tommy D.

I was just about to ask if anyone had seen Sigels 150 and out in the 1989 championship. I've personally always wanted to see this tape, but all of the Accu-stats videos from the '89 U.S. Open are out of print. Personally, I think if it's a 150&out it should always be available for sale.