jay helfert said:

I just saw an announcement for the Predator Euro Tour Spanish Open on Dec. 4-7. Right on top of the Mosconi Cup. Interesting.

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sjm said:

Skyler really played some great pool this past week. It would be nice if his form is as strong at next week's Mosconi Cup.

Yapp has become a very special player. I recently asked one of the top few ranked players in the world what they thought of Yapp, and their answer was simple. They called him "the man to beat." Enough said, for right now, that is exactly who he is.

The 2020's have seemed to feature a dominant player each year. In 2022, FSR had one of those special years. In 2023, it was Filler putting together something similar. In 2024, it was Gorst wowing us over and over. Now it is Yapp, as obvious a player of the year as the last three.

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sjm said:

A very touching moment came at the BCA Hall of Fame dinner. This year, we lost four BCA hall of famers in Buddy Hall, Danny DiLiberto, Terry Bell and Mika Immonen, and a video tribute to the four of them was shown that brought more than a few of us to tears. Add to this that we lost JL Chang and Truman Hogue this year, and it must be said that 2025 broke our collective hearts. RIP to six legends.

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Has anybody had any experience in shooting over/across a template?

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sjm said:

Has to be Shane's three US Open 9ball titles in a row. Earlier this year, Filler had a chance to make it three straight China Opens but could not pull it off.

Three in a row of anything is a minor miracle. Shaw won Turning Stone three times in a row, but it is not a big money event. At Derby City two months from now, Gorst will try to make it three Derby City one-pocket titles in a row and Filler will try to make it three straight Derby City 9ball titles. I'm looking forward to seeing if either is able to pull of the unlikely triple. Incredibly, Efren won four consecutive one-pocket titles in a row at Derby City years ago.

I think Yapp winning the 10ball and the 9ball at the same event is something special, too. It was last accomplished by Filler at the 2024 Derby City Classic.

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Island Drive said:

Thx for the write up.... well explained perspective of ''the moment''.
With the world now involved in pro nine ball events, this is a major long term concern for Pat.
I think he might have to make a big change.... Or just do a Smaller production.

Your below post Stu...... made matters very clear.

''Field size and depth in the pro events disappointed.
The main reasons, in my opinion: a) the Predator event in Spain caused many top Europeans to skip it.
b) five top Europeans were in Scotland training for the Mosconi.
C) player burnout, as the top pros just got home from two months hopping from country to country in Asia.

Pat will have to look at the world events from now on to find His Spot on the calendar.
I think his best bet might be this.
Wait till he knows what MR is going to do in 2026 with the US Open 9 ball.
I don't know if Pat has the connections in TX like he does on the Atlantic coast.

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ibuycues said:

A Real Beauty of a cue cap set!
Hope all is well.
Will Prout

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Steppo said:

I treasure the caps Alton made for me

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