I watched Rachel about a year ago when she played her first WPBA event and realized that girl can pot a ball, she is easily in my top 5 women players to watch. She plays fast and confident, not fast and loose like Ashley Benoit (who is also in my top 5), which I have no issue with. I've noticed she has zero issue leaving herself long and usually comes out on the good side. I believe in this tournament she had 3 matches that she won 7-1, one of them was in 35 minutes! As mentioned, she has great potting skills but she also plays safe's at the right time and can kick with a purpose. I hope she continues to play in these events, she's going places and I'm a huge fan.

In this particular match Vero simply played a great match and controlled the table for the first 1/2 to 3/4 of the match. I really didn't see any errors from Rachel until the last 4-5 games but, when you're down 7-2 in a race to 10 it's time to start taking some chances, especially with the alternate break format. The facts are, Vero has much more experience (over 8000'sh robustness versus 2500'sh) in these types of events and she put that experience to use and controlled the match early on.

P.S. Congratulations to the WPBA on 50 years!

BeiberLvr said:

Best finals since...?

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i would say 2018, but if you omit the quirkyness of mark williams when he's in the zone (shooting with eyes closed and one handed etc), this may be the best final i have seen.

the quality in the last session alone was just incredible. very few nerve cracks from either player - and you could tell by the strokes and crisp ball contacts.

congrats to the bet. i had already got mine in so i didn't have skin in the final. glad i picked finalist and not winner..

Jaden said:

There's no expectation of honest play. That's why there's no traditional betting on pool. There's at least the illusion of respectability in other sports.

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if they are betting their own money it is automatically honest play or no play it is just a show.

pool was always traditional betting between the players and those that side bet and trusted the players.

like anything else if you are not street smart you get taken.

Vahmurka said:

I'd prefer several sets race to 25 over a single race to 120. This is a new modern world, after all Time to adapt.

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Yeah I like this much better too. Race to 25 daily: 9-ball, 10-ball, 1p, even 8-ball and 14.1

Side-Pocket said:

Love to know how it was done in 2.

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Bergman almost got it in 2 here, should give you an idea.

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Side-Pocket said:

I can't believe this drill has been around for that long. Thanks for replying.

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We were doing this in the late 80's, it's been around for a while now.