Pool in Thailand?

gromulan

Reality police
Silver Member
Has anyone been over there and been to the pool halls. I hear they have quite a few and I'm wondering if there's any action/gambling. Were there many good players and, if so, how well did they play?

Thanks in advance...
 
There is a lot of pool in Bangkok and Pattaya. Almost everyone gambles (mostly cheap), and there are some very good players. The best rooms are the Ball In Hand I on Sukumvit soi 4, the Ball in Hand II at Times Square Asok, and the Megabreak Lounge in Pattaya. There is also the Red Parrot above Patpong, and a new room is opening at RCA Plaza. There are tournaments somewhere almost every day of the week.

Many good players show up on vacation there. Max Eberle and Mike Massey have come to the Ball in Hand I. I played Quentin Hann at the Paradise (now closed.) All the top Asian players came to Bangkok this summer for a San Miguel Tour tournament. I heard there was a party for the players at Ball in Hand II.

It is the best place in the world for a pool playing vacation.
 
I have several friends that are from Burma and spent lots of time inThailand after escaping the military dictator that took over in Burma. They can tell some very interesting stories of the war and living in the jungles eating bat and all kinds of interesting stuff. Isn't Bangkok also called nine house? I'll ask them about pool when I can.
Dan
 
Cuaba said:
There is a lot of pool in Bangkok and Pattaya. Almost everyone gambles (mostly cheap), and there are some very good players. The best rooms are the Ball In Hand I on Sukumvit soi 4, the Ball in Hand II at Times Square Asok, and the Megabreak Lounge in Pattaya. There is also the Red Parrot above Patpong, and a new room is opening at RCA Plaza. There are tournaments somewhere almost every day of the week.

Many good players show up on vacation there. Max Eberle and Mike Massey have come to the Ball in Hand I. I played Quentin Hann at the Paradise (now closed.) All the top Asian players came to Bangkok this summer for a San Miguel Tour tournament. I heard there was a party for the players at Ball in Hand II.

It is the best place in the world for a pool playing vacation.

This summed up most the best places. An Ozzie guy called Dan Black owns Megabreak in Pattaya which is an excellent pool hall with a few good players who may still be there. Jimmy white and some snooker players have played there before. He's also had a few large TV tournaments upto 100,000 Baht which where shown on TV.

More gamblers in Bangkok, mostly Thai, 1 or 2 will play for as much as $1000 possibly - oh but they don't like to lose!

Also some competitions around BIH in Bangkok but not sure on any dates.

Quite a few of the Thai guys that play on the San Miguel usually play in them too.

It really is a pretty good place to practice and have fun at the same time!

<booking flight now :(>
 
When will you be there?

TheOne said:
<booking flight now :(>

I'll be in Bangkok from the 27th of this month to December 6. Although I may head over to Manila for the WPC?

Maybe I'll see you at the BIH weekend tournaments?
 
I just checked out the new place in town, the "Sports Academy" on Sukhumvit near the Asok BTS Station. I would say it is now the nicest room in town. Its only been open about a week and it is beautiful.
 
Tang just came back from a month over there. He said the biggest game he got was for $200, with the top player. He was disappointed to say the least.
 
Cuaba said:
I just checked out the new place in town, the "Sports Academy" on Sukhumvit near the Asok BTS Station. I would say it is now the nicest room in town. Its only been open about a week and it is beautiful.

And it's just a stone's throw from Soi Cowboy.;)

Hadn't heard about that place- I will check it out the next time I'm in Bangkok.

If anybody is wondering, there ain't no (pool) action on Koh Samui, but I'm happy to give preferential rates to AZers.:D
 
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I was just about to write I played some nice games when at Samui, but noticed gobrian77 should know it better :) I'm surprised about no pool action there, because last year when I visited the island they even had a local pool league between club teams! I don't remember the name of the place I was in, but the equipment was pretty decent, I've seen much worse.
 
Vahmurka said:
I was just about to write I played some nice games when at Samui, but noticed gobrian77 should know it better :) I'm surprised about no pool action there, because last year when I visited the island they even had a local pool league between club teams! I don't remember the name of the place I was in, but the equipment was pretty decent, I've seen much worse.

I meant bars where you could get some money games- never seen that sort of thing here.;)

I believe you're referring to "Tropical Murphy's" (big Irish pub on the beach road in Chaweng)- yup, they still run a league (I hope to join it in a few months)- the owner runs a great place and is one of the best players on the island.

There are a couple decent tables on the island, but they're few-and-far-between- most of 'em are in open-air places and the heat and humidity destroys them after a while (though many of them were low quality to begin with).
 
Brian,
Your resort looks great!
Im moving to Bangkok for a year and will definitely have to come visit!
Jeff

I meant bars where you could get some money games- never seen that sort of thing here.;)

I believe you're referring to "Tropical Murphy's" (big Irish pub on the beach road in Chaweng)- yup, they still run a league (I hope to join it in a few months)- the owner runs a great place and is one of the best players on the island.

There are a couple decent tables on the island, but they're few-and-far-between- most of 'em are in open-air places and the heat and humidity destroys them after a while (though many of them were low quality to begin with).
 
Back Again Soon

Brian,
Your resort looks great!
Im moving to Bangkok for a year and will definitely have to come visit!
Jeff

Jeff,
I live in Bangkok about 1/3 of the year. I just came home three weeks ago, I'll be returning to Bangkok in about 2 months. Brian visited me in Bangkok last month, and I go to Samui about once a year. I'll probably visit him in October.

He's got a nice resort on one of the best beaches in Thailand.

Hopefully I'll see you in October. I know all of the pool places in town, and everybody in the pool scene knows me. Its really a great town for pool.

Your gonna love it!
 
Brian,
Your resort looks great!
Im moving to Bangkok for a year and will definitely have to come visit!
Jeff

Come on down any time- there are about 16 flights per day from Bangkok to Samui.:cool:

I may also be in Bangkok for a couple of days in October- it would be cool to have an AZ get-together.:thumbup:

What are you going to be doing in Bangkok?
 
Plane Crash?

Come on down any time- there are about 16 flights per day from Bangkok to Samui.:cool:

I may also be in Bangkok for a couple of days in October- it would be cool to have an AZ get-together.:thumbup:

What are you going to be doing in Bangkok?

Brian,
Were any of your guests on the plane that crashed a couple days ago? I saw the airport was closed for a day or so. Any of your guests get stuck?

Don't forget, my Mom will be there, I think on Wednesday?
 
Brian,
Were any of your guests on the plane that crashed a couple days ago? I saw the airport was closed for a day or so. Any of your guests get stuck?

Don't forget, my Mom will be there, I think on Wednesday?

Nope- it was a plane in from Krabi- there were a few injuries (and the pilot died as the plane suffered a hit to the cockpit) but it wasn't a major accident- the plane skidded on a wet runway during a storm and hit an unused control tower- the airport was open as usual by early the next afternoon.

Your mom is in on the 12th, I believe- I will check the schedule when I'm in the office tomorrow.
 
I'll be in Bangkok from the 27th of this month to December 6. Although I may head over to Manila for the WPC?

Maybe I'll see you at the BIH weekend tournaments?
Hey Buddy,
I fly tomorow to BKK and Pattaya,
give me your Thai Phone and I give you a call for playing Pool:D
Ralf
 
Be Careful

I'm a Idiot, no Coffee and tired(have the Flu too)
Thanks
Ralf

They are using Thermal Imaging scanners at the Bangkok Airport, and they can quarantine you if your temperature is high enough. They are trying to prevent people from bringing H1N1 into the country.

My mother just arrived yesterday and she said they scanned everyone. I got scanned last month when I arrived.
 
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