Gareth Potts vs SVB.. who wins?

I was being "facetious". Are you familiar with that term?
My entire point being that, in every thread like this, all of the foreign contingent comes out of the woodwork to say how overrated SVB is and how so and so from some European or Asian country would walk all over SVB in whatever game, etc...

What I find funny is the fact that SVB would horsef#$$ any of them for the cash and they could all win more than they'll ever see in their entire lives if they would like to try him some. Then these same idiots say that gambling doesn't matter, blah, blah, blah

Same story, different thread.

Tell Mr. Potts that he can win more than he won in that 16-player tourney if he wants to try SVB in an all around of 8-ball, 1-pocket, 10-ball, snooker, 9-ball, and straight pool. But I'm guessing that he would say no because I'm assuming he's smarter than most of the clowns posting about him being a better overall pool player than SVB.

About on par with the American dumbasses that claim he could win against Ronnie in a snooker match, now that is moron territory.
 
Yes, let's all close our minds and only look at the shrinking American pro pool scene that's dying a slow death.
 
Potts might be a slight favorite at black ball and C8B, but if they ever play what odds are you giving?????????????? I'm guessing a really strong NONE. That's the point. SVB is a stronger player at every other game but C8B, and black ball. MAYBE straight pool.


SVB cannot beat Potts at Blackball. It is just not possible. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE understand this. The odds on offer would be infinite.

Everyone bird chirps till its time to bet the feed, then they magically turn to crickets.

As this thread is about who is the better pool player, ie who is more adaptable, why not ask your boy to play Potts is an all-round 8 ball? Race to 100, 33 blackball, 33 C8B, 34 A8B. Tell you what, to make it completely fair, how about playing home and away?

Crickets? Did someone mention crickets?

Just another case of how VOR, Thaiger, think they know so much but both have admitted to being... not so good???, but some how have a better understanding than the rest of us stupid Americans. I have dedicated countless hours to better understanding, fine tuning, and honing my game. I'm far from a pro, but I have come a LONG way in a very short time.

Lol.

I'm far too modest to reveal the true extent of my pitifulness on a pool table, but I have no doubt VOR is a decent player. Even not knowing who he is, I'd bet on him over SVB at English 8 ball any day of the week. SVB was raped by pub players when he played it recently. You simply will not win at that game if you are not experienced in it. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE understand this.

The first thing you have to learn about bar box 8ball, is to have cue ball control. The tight quarters combined with usually very poor conditions, teach you to keep whitey in check. Shane cut his teeth competitively with this game, he seldom gets careless with the CB.

CB control? Are you kidding me? Did you actually watch the 2013 C8B final? All the more impressive is the fact that he's used to playing a game with a 1.75" CB, and would have focused heavily on the American sized ball for only a matter of a few months, probably. Potts' CB control is off the scale in comparison to virtually every other pool player on the planet. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE understand this.


PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, explain this phenomenon?!?!?!?!?!! No one wants to rob the 1 trick pony, WHY???

Because SVB won't leave his comfort zone. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE understand this.

This thread is about who is the best pool player, NOT who will only play the game THEY like. Let your boy venture out of the US, and play different games with different sized balls/tables/pockets, never mind actually win something of note.

Until then, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE understand Potts is on a different level entire to your boy Van Boening.

Multiple world championships. Check.
Champion in different disciplines. Check
A winner of championships outside own comfortable zone. Check.
Slaughtered alleged opponent in the only time they've played. Check
 
This is the way I see it.

Shane is an American pool player.
Potts is a European snooker/blackball player.

In America, we play games such as:
8-ball
9-ball
10-ball
Short Rack Banks
Long Rack Banks
One Pocket
14.1
Rotation

All of these are played on tables ranging from 3.5'x7' to 5'x10' with varying pocket sizes.

I would say that Shane is the strong favorite in every American game against Potts.
Potts would be a favorite in Snooker, Chinese 8-ball, & Blackball.

What makes Shane the lesser player overall?
 
This is the way I see it.

Shane is an American pool player.
Potts is a European snooker/blackball player.

In America, we play games such as:
8-ball
9-ball
10-ball
Short Rack Banks
Long Rack Banks
One Pocket
14.1
Rotation

All of these are played on tables ranging from 3.5'x7' to 5'x10' with varying pocket sizes.

I would say that Shane is the strong favorite in every American game against Potts.
Potts would be a favorite in Snooker, Chinese 8-ball, & Blackball.

What makes Shane the lesser player overall?

Pots is not a "snooker player" as such.

In answer to your question. Nothing. I don't hold that view particularly personally.

There is an argument that Europeans have better "fundamentals" as you chaps call them and that is likely true.

This is outweighed (In SVB's case only by all accounts) by the break. The break is apparently king in american pool games - though this is not the case of course in 1p, 14:1 and straight pool?

So the debate has morphed into what is more important, having better fundamentals or a better break.

Like most forum arguments, this is not an argument that is going to change anyone's position at all. It really matters not what informed argument and evidence anyone presents.

What is also interesting is that on another thread where SVB was compared to O'Sullivan, some people were of the view that SVB could compete with O'Sullivan at snooker after some time at a snooker table.

If it is the case that fundamentals are a weakness for him that he compensates for with the break, then days, months, years of further training and practise at these fundamentals in preparation for a swap to a cue sport where better fundamentals are required, be that C8B, snooker or English pool, he'd be wasting his time.

Far too late to sort now - he has in all likelihood reached his peak in terms of fundamentals.
 
Oh ok, I hear what you're saying.

Well, IMO if they were to play every game out there, I can only say SVB is the favorite in American games. The break is not as huge a factor in 14.1 (Straight Pool) and One Pocket, but SVB would have the edge in both. His 14.1 game has improved in a short period of time and his style of 1P play is monstrous.

Edit-

I do agree with you, fundamentals are important, but as you have probably witnessed; Fundamentals in America are almost non-existent and we still manage to play at high levels. I guess it goes with the overall view of American pool. We play with fancy cues and have our own pompous swagger as we go about the table. If we didn't, we wouldn't be American.
 
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I do agree with you, fundamentals are important, but as you have probably witnessed; Fundamentals in America are almost non-existent and we still manage to play at high levels.

High levels, yes. But there's only really Shane playing at a world class level right now. And that's not me sniping at American pool, it's just something that needs to be addressed if you (as a country) want to compete on the world stage.

Given the amount of serious players here, it should be mind-boggling how there are (IMO) more world class British players than there are American players at American pool.
 
Given the amount of serious players here, it should be mind-boggling how there are (IMO) more world class British players than there are American players at American pool.

It's not mind-boggling. Traveling across the pond is expensive. Ever notice how many players need backers, just to enter into US tournaments alone?
 
Did you miss the bit about him slaughtering SVB?

did you miss the part that it's one short race in his best game?

What do you think the outcome would be if he played Shane a race to 16 in 10-ball?

I still don't think you clowns get that a short race tourney doesn't define the best player. In this regard, pool can directly be compared to poker. Anyone that has a decent level of ability can win a given tourney, but the better players get the cash in the long run at the cash games.

Now maybe all of these Euro and Asian 8-ballers and tourney players can play for the cash too, but until they step in the box with Shane in a long race in an all around then they are 1-trick tourney ponies.

By the way, check out all of Shane's finishes in international events. He has placed high in the handful he has entered. Given the variance of short race tourneys it's only a matter of time before he snaps a few off and if he played all of them like most of these guys then he would dominate just like he does here.
 
Did my suggestion of them simply playing a mixed set of 50% American 8-ball on a Diamond and 50% Chinese 8-ball or Blackball just make too much ****ing sense?
 
It's not mind-boggling. Traveling across the pond is expensive. Ever notice how many players need backers, just to enter into US tournaments alone?

I don't understand this.

We have a few hundred regular American pool players here in the UK. There's no way we should be producing more world class players than America.
 
As times change and we see the decline in the west and the rise of the east in cuesports players like Gareth can adapt and maybe go on to make decent money in C8B the American players will be held back by their technical ability, arrogance or both, the rest of the world don't care about 1P or 14.1 even rotation games are questionable.
I am not savvy on the future of C8B but I know the shift in snooker has been quick and massive, the players are having to get used to the fact that that is where the money is and they will have more travel in their future or they will get left behind.
 
Oh ok, I hear what you're saying.

Well, IMO if they were to play every game out there, I can only say SVB is the favorite in American games. The break is not as huge a factor in 14.1 (Straight Pool) and One Pocket, but SVB would have the edge in both. His 14.1 game has improved in a short period of time and his style of 1P play is monstrous.

Edit-

I do agree with you, fundamentals are important, but as you have probably witnessed; Fundamentals in America are almost non-existent and we still manage to play at high levels. I guess it goes with the overall view of American pool. We play with fancy cues and have our own pompous swagger as we go about the table. If we didn't, we wouldn't be American.

For the cheap seats (not meaning you) let me clear before I go any further by saying that I like SVB's game and all that I speak to report that he is a thoroughly nice chap - so lets be clear that I am not bashing him in the slightest.

I actually think he has a good game all round. I think he has a first class break, a good temperament (very important) and enough to clear a rack if given an opportunity.

Could he play and compete at Snooker? Not a chance..
Could he play and compete at E8B? Not a chance..
Could he play and compete at C8B? not in my opinion*

* and the reason is simple, the value of the break is reduced and replaced with a greater emphasis on fundamentals..

None of the above stops him being a great AP player and why should it? And in fact, does he or any of you care?

Regarding In red above...

But you see, you are not.

Shane aside, you have no one at all competing at the top level. It's all players from outside the USA.
 
As times change and we see the decline in the west and the rise of the east in cuesports players like Gareth can adapt and maybe go on to make decent money in C8B the American players will be held back by their technical ability, arrogance or both, the rest of the world don't care about 1P or 14.1 even rotation games are questionable.
I am not savvy on the future of C8B but I know the shift in snooker has been quick and massive, the players are having to get used to the fact that that is where the money is and they will have more travel in their future or they will get left behind.

Furthermore, I don't see great depth in the talent pool here in the UK, either. We are mirroring the US, I fear. American pool left the US a long time ago, and snooker is going to go the same way for the UK. Our teaching has never been better, but who is playing the game? Very few youngsters around my way.
 
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