Mika Immonen ~ World 10 Ball Champion!
- Thread starter Fast Lenny
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I couldn't be happier for Mika, couldn't happen to a nicer guy!
Mika's run started last fall, before the US Open and I agree that he has had one of the most incredible 14-15 month runs of any modern day tournament pro. What's even more gratifying for Mika is that he had many second place finishes in major events, but (other than the WPC win) always came up a lil short. After this year, i believe he has exorcised ever one of those demons i.e. 2 US Open wins, Japan Open, etc,etc.
I was in a local poolroom earlier this year and asked Mika what he did to bump his game up. He kinda shrugged and said in his soft spoken way; "I made some adjustments to my backhand". It wasn't what I was expecting, but I guess it works
Eric
Mika's run started last fall, before the US Open and I agree that he has had one of the most incredible 14-15 month runs of any modern day tournament pro. What's even more gratifying for Mika is that he had many second place finishes in major events, but (other than the WPC win) always came up a lil short. After this year, i believe he has exorcised ever one of those demons i.e. 2 US Open wins, Japan Open, etc,etc.
I was in a local poolroom earlier this year and asked Mika what he did to bump his game up. He kinda shrugged and said in his soft spoken way; "I made some adjustments to my backhand". It wasn't what I was expecting, but I guess it works
Eric
That may have been my post you reference. I was completely
as evidenced by my wink and followup. The better the play, the better the rolls.
Mika is an also ran that just gets all the rolls. His luck can't last forever.
Congrats to Mika. This year has been mind boggling. It would make a great DVD or TV special if someone pulled together video and edited and narrated, etc with a nice sampling of key shots with interviews, of all his victories for the year.
I watched Mika at the Open when the "Angry Kid", whjat's his name from England, Scott....? Anyway Mika was down 9-2 IIRC. Mika had not been on his game. The Angry Kid blinked on that table, Mika caught a gear, and won the last 9 racks. I was right on Mika's shoulder. I was a believer before, but even more so now.
He was also runner up in the world 14.1 championship this year
Come on now.... mika is known for being a crybaby at times when things aren't going his way. I'm sure lee van is very aware of this and is probably thinking along the lines "yeh he's a good sportsman now.. when he wins..."
Not that two wrongs make a right, but yeh.
Actually, it might usher in a new wave of cue-always-in-motion circular locomotive strokers!
Actually, it might usher in a new wave of cue-always-in-motion circular locomotive strokers!
That too.....................
Does Billiard Digest still award Player of the Year? This is like a monster year for Mika.
The only significant event for him to conquer is the proving ground that separate men from boys, DCC.
The only significant event for him to conquer is the proving ground that separate men from boys, DCC.
Actually, it might usher in a new wave of cue-always-in-motion circular locomotive strokers!
Lol, you are going to give some instructors that hang out here a heart-attack.
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Congrats to Mika on this win and a amazing year.
That, and another non-rotation pool event, such as a World 8-Ball or World 14.1 Straight Pool event.
Does Mika ever get into action or is he like Ralf, and steers clear?
At least in recent memory... One cannot forget Nick Varner in 1989.... he won at least 8 major pro events.
Never the less... CONGRATS to Mika! Insane what he has been achieving!
reminds me of something an old crusty pool player told me one time ...
"everyone's your friend while they're beating you're brains out"
I know Mika has at times shown less than stellar sportsmanship(witnessed it first hand) but there's no denying his accomplishments. He's really stringing them together right now.
I remember the first time I saw him play at (my first) BCA Open around 98-99 in Las Vegas. They were still having the men's tournament upstairs in the tower. I walked in and there were all these legendary "Professional" pool players. Mizerak and Hopkins among many others, I was in awe! And then here's this blond headed "kid" playing GREAT! I remember because back then NO ONE that I talked to or overheard even knew how to pronounce his name.
Bet they don't have that problem anymore...
"everyone's your friend while they're beating you're brains out"
I know Mika has at times shown less than stellar sportsmanship(witnessed it first hand) but there's no denying his accomplishments. He's really stringing them together right now.
I remember the first time I saw him play at (my first) BCA Open around 98-99 in Las Vegas. They were still having the men's tournament upstairs in the tower. I walked in and there were all these legendary "Professional" pool players. Mizerak and Hopkins among many others, I was in awe! And then here's this blond headed "kid" playing GREAT! I remember because back then NO ONE that I talked to or overheard even knew how to pronounce his name.
Bet they don't have that problem anymore...
Seriously, this is the best year I have ever seen ANYONE have in my entire time in this game.
This is the kind of domination that noone has managed since rotational pool has become the norm in the professional ranks. I never thought I would see a person have this type of year in rotational pool given the luck factor involved and the level of play that SO MANY players have. Had Mika won the BCA 10-ball he would have won all the major events for the year that I see. I don't count the DCC because of the format and the true intent of that tourney as a gambling convention.
To go through the two biggest events this year, both this well over 100 world class players, and win them both... unreal.
This makes me think that if pool were like it once was, with a game that allowed the cream to rise to the top like it did in the straight pool era, Mika might have had a chance to dominate the world like Mosconi once did and Greenleaf did before. He might be that elite "best of the best" and we can only barely see it because of the current professional game having such a significant factor of luck.
What do you all think has separated him from the field? Besides making more 9 and 10 balls, lol.
In a word (or phrase, actually), "getting out of his own way." Mika's been his own worst enemy whenever he'd fallen down in other tourneys. I remember one fan (at the Predator World 14.1 Straight Pool tournament at Comet Billiards in NJ) saying he referred to Mika as "Mika 'Mistakes Out Of Nowhere' Immonen."