Alex Pagulayan going to UK to try pro snooker

RedEyeJedi said:
Just look at the folks in the first pages of this thread that insisted he would get nowhere. Less did he prove them wrong, I think, than merely reveal them as the undreaming railbirds they are.

Keep driving, Alex.
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That's not what I got from it. Most snooker players who've commented have said they would love to see Alex on the snooker circuit. The reality is we'll be seeing more Chinese automatons.

Disregarding the delusional fanboys most sensible people (both pool and snooker) were predicting:-
Melling - a shoe in - been there seen it done it.
Alex - Probably not
Corey - definitely not
How did those predictions turn out?

You can't blame anyone for not realising how good a snooker player Alex is. I listened to his interview and he said as much himself. Part of the reason for participating was to find out. If nothing else he's proved he can be competitive at this level. So how good is he? Well it would appear, not quite good enough.

Will he improve? I personally hope so. But if he's losing because he misses pots he should be getting, I can guarantee his potting wont be improving. Ye cannae change the laws o' physics. But he CAN beat big name players. Anyone at this level can. Looking forward to seeing him play, and wishing him all success.

Boro Nut
 
Boro Nut said:
That's not what I got from it. Most snooker players who've commented have said they would love to see Alex on the snooker circuit. The reality is we'll be seeing more Chinese automatons.

Disregarding the delusional fanboys most sensible people (both pool and snooker) were predicting:-
Melling - a shoe in - been there seen it done it.
Alex - Probably not
Corey - definitely not
How did those predictions turn out?

You can't blame anyone for not realising how good a snooker player Alex is. I listened to his interview and he said as much himself. Part of the reason for participating was to find out. If nothing else he's proved he can be competitive at this level. So how good is he? Well it would appear, not quite good enough.

Will he improve? I personally hope so. But if he's losing because he misses pots he should be getting, I can guarantee his potting wont be improving. Ye cannae change the laws o' physics. But he CAN beat big name players. Anyone at this level can. Looking forward to seeing him play, and wishing him all success.

Boro Nut
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Yep at the end of the day the predictions were spot on ..he's a good snooker player in Canada and here has been for yrs , he just didn't pick up the game yesterday
He's played the game for many yrs he could not have got that far if he didn't ,
But at the end of the day even a on the edge qualifier proved to be to much , no shame it it , it is what it is

1
 
7 wins and only 2 losses in such a field of the best snooker talents world wide.
Great success! I am so sorry there is no double elimintaion :wink:
1984
 
Ive seen him play and he definitely has what it takes. Age may not be on his side, id say its a good 3-5 years of nothing but snooker before he is challenging the top 32.

Having watched him, he goes about dissecting a pack like a 14.1 player. He needs a top coach to guide him in the right direction with regards to break building and safety tactics. If he does, the 3-5 years could be cut short massively, id go out on a limb and say as much as half the time. But he has shown he can compete against some of the best amateur players already, some of which have been playing tens of years.
 
I hope he gets some of those invites to tourneys with less than full fields.

Also, the current "American" representative, Igor Figueiredo of Brasil, doesn't actually play in many tournaments, because he doesn't have a backer to pay his costs and send him. So perhaps there is an opening there, maybe there could be "co-American" reps, such that if Figueiredo can't make it Alex would be able to step in.

I think Alex was very successful here. I expect one way or another he will get to play in a number of pro tournaments this year and next, and if his heart is in it, he will be successful.
 
he needs very little practice to advance to the tour, I'd say as little as 90 day's worth of solid time at the table prior to next year's q school

18 months of practice.....and watch out world

maybe a little uk 8 ball too for shits and giggles, Selby did that and look at him now

Alex' showing this year was outstanding
congrats
 
smashmouth said:
he needs very little practice to advance to the tour, I'd say as little as 90 day's worth of solid time at the table prior to next year's q school

18 months of practice.....and watch out world

maybe a little uk 8 ball too for shits and giggles, Selby did that and look at him now

Alex' showing this year was outstanding
congrats
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Are you sharing ,,



1
 
one stroke said:
Yep at the end of the day the predictions were spot on ..he's a good snooker player in Canada and here has been for yrs , he just didn't pick up the game yesterday
He's played the game for many yrs he could not have got that far if he didn't ,
But at the end of the day even a on the edge qualifier proved to be to much , no shame it it , it is what it is

1
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Actually, Alex played very little snooker. He's still learning the more obscure rules.
But a few years ago, he started hitting some snooker balls to increase
his accuracy......and found he really liked the game.
 
pt109 said:
Actually, Alex played very little snooker. He's still learning the more obscure rules.
But a few years ago, he started hitting some snooker balls to increase
his accuracy......and found he really liked the game.
Click to expand...

He has 2 Canadian titles and a Filipino team Gold medal in 2005 and I seriously doubt that was the first time he played Snooker


1
 
Boro Nut said:
That's not what I got from it. Most snooker players who've commented have said they would love to see Alex on the snooker circuit. The reality is we'll be seeing more Chinese automatons.

Disregarding the delusional fanboys most sensible people (both pool and snooker) were predicting:-
Melling - a shoe in - been there seen it done it.
Alex - Probably not
Corey - definitely not
How did those predictions turn out?

You can't blame anyone for not realising how good a snooker player Alex is. I listened to his interview and he said as much himself. Part of the reason for participating was to find out. If nothing else he's proved he can be competitive at this level. So how good is he? Well it would appear, not quite good enough.

Will he improve? I personally hope so. But if he's losing because he misses pots he should be getting, I can guarantee his potting wont be improving. Ye cannae change the laws o' physics. But he CAN beat big name players. Anyone at this level can. Looking forward to seeing him play, and wishing him all success.

Boro Nut
Click to expand...

it was a first to 4 frames match, that is so short it can go either way. Alex is one of the nicest guys I have ever been around and they dont call his the LION for nothing, His heart is HUGE. Alex has all the talent in the world. I would not be surprised to see him snapping off some people not to many expected.
 
one stroke said:
He has 2 Canadian titles and a Filipino team Gold medal in 2005 and I seriously doubt that was the first time he played Snooker


1
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Alex hit snooker balls as early as 16 years old....but I doubt it was even
1% of all the billiard games he's played.
He didn't even own a snooker cue till the last few years. I used to lend him one.

He started hitting a lot on a snooker table at the Cue Club in Vegas a
while back and started to really love the game.
...and that is what gives him a chance in the snooker world....
...it's never about the money at the start
 
Well, Melling aced it and Alex didn't quite make it. It was a great first attempt, though. I would have loved to be proven wrong on this one. Still, like many have said, some intensive practice and coaching and he could make it next year. Let's hope he can mobilize his strength for another go. I'd love to see him on the pro tour, I really would.
 
Alex made a good run of it and came in about where I expected him. Competitive but not quite enough speed to qualify which is still a long way below the Top tier pros who have years of honing their craft.

Liam remember is a guy who made the tour but couldn't keep his card. Above him are 100 guys who play super strong. Then there are about 50 guys who have made their money and their best before date has expired and would rather hang it up than scruffle for small pay days on the back tables. Some like Jimmy White are in their 50's and will play until the cue gets ripped out of their hands or the are forced to requalify.

Good for Alex. He's probably got another try in him. As a Canadian my heart said yes but the big device on my shoulders doubted it. He's got a chance but has to fully devote himself to it and is racing with Father-Time.

Nick
 
Swighey said:
Posted on snookerforum:

"I watched this match. I have to say, what a classy guy he is! A great striker of the ball and his safety was excellent. We're it now for a couple of missed tricky balls he could have won 4-1.

What I liked the most was that he genuinely seemed to be enjoying it. For many of the players Q-School is more like an exam than fun but it was good to see him smiling and laughing off his mistakes.

I've enjoyed watching play pool over the years but I'm definitely a fan now! I hope he comes good tomorrow. Snooker needs more guys like him."

Original Source: Q school 2014 http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=50042&page=15#ixzz32J7smgH0
- TSF - TheSnookerForum.co.uk
Follow us: @TheSnookerForum on Twitter | TheSnookerForum on Facebook
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You pretty much nailed it, this aspect of character, SVB admires of the lion.
 
topping-up

Alex won 32 frames in all? Does this put him at the top of the top-up rankings from Q-school?

http://www.worldsnookerqschool.com/news

I think also the fact that the "Americas" spot is basically dormant, in that Figueiredo rarely travels, should mean that Alex should be able to avail himself of that spot on a part time basis.
 
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Normally I would say that Alex had no chance to qualify, competing against these guys who grew up playing Snooker. Plus the fact that at age 37, he is already on the high end of the pro snooker range.

But Alex is a freak, much like Efren. If anyone could overcome the odds and transform themselves into a competitive snooker player at an advanced age it would be Alex. There's a reason he's called the LION, because he has so much heart. My feeling after this display is that if Alex were to devote the next year solely to snooker he would make the tour at age 38. He has unusual talent, rare at any cue game.

Let's see what happens if he actually sticks with it, gets some proper coaching and dedicates himself to the game. I give him less than six months to be a high level player, certainly capable of competing on the national tour. We will just have to sit back and see what transpires. I'm rooting for you kid!
 
jay helfert said:
Normally I would say that Alex had no chance to qualify, competing against these guys who grew up playing Snooker. Plus the fact that at age 37, he is already on the high end of the pro snooker range.

But Alex is a freak, much like Efren. If anyone could overcome the odds and transform themselves into a competitive snooker player at an advanced age it would be Alex. There's a reason he's called the LION, because he has so much heart. My feeling after this display is that if Alex were to devote the next year solely to snooker he would make the tour at age 38. He has unusual talent, rare at any cue game.

Let's see what happens if he actually sticks with it, gets some proper coaching and dedicates himself to the game. I give him less than six months to be a high level player, certainly capable of competing on the national tour. We will just have to sit back and see what transpires. I'm rooting for you kid!
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I like your analysis, Jay, and hope you are correct.

[From his website, Alex' date of birth is June 25, 1978. That makes him 35 today, 36 next month. So he has more time than you thought!]
 
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