Rusty in Montana said:

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This one is too realistic to be funny...

Kudos the this cuemaker!!!

Ģüśţāṿ said:

Definitely not the same as it used to be, really unfortunate (gambling wise). 4 9ft tables and 1 bar box, however the big group from PR kept trying to take the tables over for their money matches. Constant sharking from those guys and they kept trying to play in place of their friends while they gambled (for the open event). Always ask for ID!!

There were also 2 9ft tables between hall A and B, near the beef jerky stand that many were gambling on as well.

Used to be much better with multiple bar boxes set up in the practice room, now you have to wait until after midnight to play on the tournament tables, plus TAP has commandeered the majority of them.

Overall though it was a huge turn out with many vendors, lots of fun in any case.

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How’s the jerky? Is it rubbery or crisp like it’s supposed to be?

iusedtoberich said:

Oh, and Glen, realkingcobra, had a seminar on how to replace the cloth on a table yesterday. It started at noon, and went thru about 9pm. I was participating in it.

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I wish that we had done introductions and mentioned our AZB monikers. I was there for a couple of hours, mostly talking with Steve Gephart and Brian Russell. I left the Expo center around 7:45. At that time, the bed cloth hadn't been laid out yet.

It must be a pleasure for Lely to work with someone like him. All the talent in the world and a work ethic.

Icon of Sin said:

Can't be due to the gambling... they are live streaming it from another section of the expo.

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I heard that there were far more TAP teams than typical, so the 7' tables were needed for the team events. No idea on the validity of that rumor, but it would make sense.

Turns out Wiktor Zielinski has been working with Alex Lely. Can't say I am surprised. Zielinski has looked more focused and less petulant.

Wiktor wrote on FB: "Thanks to Alex Lely for bringing me back to life on the pool table after terrible last year."

There are three things Lely will zero in on: A return to fundamentals, a stable and improved mental approach, and tactics and strategy (safeties and defensive play).

Zielinski imo has some of the best tools in the businesses, but he's developed bad habits. Chief among them is getting easily frustrated and down on himself. He can also be sloppy at times on positioning (both offense and defense). I chalk that up to him not always taking enough time to survey the table. He needs more patience.

Full FB post:

Winner of Super Billiards EXPO 2026. Feels really good to be back lifting trophies once again

Pretty surprised that I managed to play well on bouncy tables with high humidity

It’s been really successful time for me in the US with finishing all of them on the podium.

Thanks to Alex Lely for bringing me back to life on the pool table after terrible last year, we worked really hard last month on several things and it seems like it’s paying off

Now it is time to celebrate, have a deserved rest and prepare for the next tournaments.

Seemed there were a lot of cue makers there this year, and all the big custom resellers.

I've never been to an SBE, were there historically a bunch of smaller 2nd-hand cue dealers present?

Rusty in Montana said:

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Because he is.

ghlenz said:

"100% wrong"?? So you know for a fact that the balls that I got from Amazon were not previously purchased and returned?

While I my not be 100% correct, I am NOT 100% wrong.

The set I got from PoolDawg, were not just shrink wrapped, the shrink wrap had the Aramith logo printed on it also. They were most defintetly the only ball set that I received that I can confidently say were 100% Aramith balls and they were never purchased and opened and returned by another customer.

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You are 100% wrong in your previous asserted certainty. You claimed that you are 100% certain that the Amazon set that you purchased were returned by another customer, simply because the box was not wrapped in plastic. It would be impossible for you to be that certain, unless the balls showed some sort of handling or defect. So, in essence, you are being overly critical of the merchant, without enough understanding of common practice.

It's great that your new set had plastic wrap. In my experience, this is rare. With the exception of a select few sets (including a Premium set that I sold yesterday), it has not been common for Aramith ball sets to be wrapped in plastic. I don't know why this is, as even the cheap Asian ball sets tend to be wrapped.

fastone371 said:

I had a new piece of Great White with a magnet on it, a team mate wanted to borrow it so I left it with him and said I would get it next week. The next week I ask for it back and he informs it went down the pocket on the table, I said no problem, just get me another piece. He says he figures he don't owe me a piece of chalk because it was the guy he was playing that knocked it down the pocket and I should collect from him. You cant argue with that kind of stupidity.

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No, but you can punch it in the face

easy-e said:

So I just read all 5 pages of the thread

Looks like I should check out Chris's if I get a chance! For the locals, what nights do they have leagues/tournament's at Chris's? I probably won't hit a ball (not packing my cue) but wouldn't mind watching something.

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Translation - be wary of strangers playing off the wall - suckers