World Cup of Pool 2014(Portsmouth, UK) 23-28Sep (9ball Scotch Doubles) Winner $60K
- Thread starter spartan
- Start date
Wow, that was a strange final. The play was pretty even, but it looked like the Dutch would prevail, then it looked like the English would prevail, then it looked like the Dutch would prevail, and then it looked like the English would prevail, etc.
Congrats to Karl and Darren on a great win.
Between the American 14.1 in Virginia and the World Cup of Pool, I don't think Darren has lost a match since his wedding day in mid-August.
Congrats to Karl and Darren on a great win.
Between the American 14.1 in Virginia and the World Cup of Pool, I don't think Darren has lost a match since his wedding day in mid-August.
I was really surprised at niels choice of being jacked up on the 8 ball shot. I do not even pretend to be a pro and never will be, but, I have learned the concept of, "play what the table gives you". in other words, rather than increasing the odds of missing the shot, just make the 8 ball and take the long shot on the nine or play a safe..it looked like he had a slight angle so could have followed 2 or 3 rails ....imho that would have been a much better choice. I consider their losing to be a mental error. was rooting for them to win after earl and shane got bumped out......
I was really surprised at niels choice of being jacked up on the 8 ball shot. I do not even pretend to be a pro and never will be, but, I have learned the concept of, "play what the table gives you". in other words, rather than increasing the odds of missing the shot, just make the 8 ball and take the long shot on the nine or play a safe..it looked like he had a slight angle so could have followed 2 or 3 rails ....imho that would have been a much better choice. I consider their losing to be a mental error. was rooting for them to win after earl and shane got bumped out......
I think when you're in the heat of the battle, with that time clock tick-tocking, it requires one to make split-second decisions. For sure, that's what happened here. If there was no time clock, I think the outcome might have been different. Not sure.
I read that Nick van den Berg was bummed out about losing, but I don't think he or Niels have anything to be ashamed about. They both put on a clinic for the masses, played pool at the highest level. As far as who won, if I was a betting tout, it would have been a coin flip between England and The Netherlands on that last match. :yes:
Sadly, as it is in the game of pool, there can only be one winner.
I was really surprised at niels choice of being jacked up on the 8 ball shot. I do not even pretend to be a pro and never will be, but, I have learned the concept of, "play what the table gives you". in other words, rather than increasing the odds of missing the shot, just make the 8 ball and take the long shot on the nine or play a safe..it looked like he had a slight angle so could have followed 2 or 3 rails ....imho that would have been a much better choice. I consider their losing to be a mental error. was rooting for them to win after earl and shane got bumped out......
I think that's where the scotch doubles format comes into play. Playing alone, you'd probably just accept the longer shot. Playing with a partner, on the other hand, you want to leave them an easy shot.
Genipool has uploaded the video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd-71DVMcJU
i watched the entire match again and i still get chills on the last 4 balls of the last rack. :grin:
i watched the entire match again and i still get chills on the last 4 balls of the last rack. :grin:
So would it have been a higher percentage play to leave van den Berg more angle on the 7 so he would come around the corner and play 3 rail shape on the 8? Clearly Neils was debating the option considering that he took the extension on the 6 ball that he ended up shooting straight in with stop shot.
No doubt they should have executed either way, but I've been favoring the 3 rail shape in these situations lately and was wondering what the AZB collective thinks.
No doubt they should have executed either way, but I've been favoring the 3 rail shape in these situations lately and was wondering what the AZB collective thinks.
I thought he would roll forward and leave draw cut on 7 in corner allowing cue ball to go to middle of side rail and down to bottom rail for straight in on 8 ball. From bottom rail position easy to get on 9!So would it have been a higher percentage play to leave van den Berg more angle on the 7 so he would come around the corner and play 3 rail shape on the 8? Clearly Neils was debating the option considering that he took the extension on the 6 ball that he ended up shooting straight in with stop shot.
No doubt they should have executed either way, but I've been favoring the 3 rail shape in these situations lately and was wondering what the AZB collective thinks.
Kd
Mashaka
New member
Tough match. Well said, great comeback from just about done, against 2 world champions, right to the brink. Stuff happens. John is a champion. That's why he's sitting next to Alex, playing for a world title. Ironically, this could be the experience that pushes him to become a world title holder. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Its a defining moment in the young
I was really surprised at niels choice of being jacked up on the 8 ball shot. I do not even pretend to be a pro and never will be, but, I have learned the concept of, "play what the table gives you". in other words, rather than increasing the odds of missing the shot, just make the 8 ball and take the long shot on the nine or play a safe..it looked like he had a slight angle so could have followed 2 or 3 rails ....imho that would have been a much better choice. I consider their losing to be a mental error. was rooting for them to win after earl and shane got bumped out......
I like your thoughtful post, but I think Niels made the right choice and failed to execute it.
Multi-rail shape would still have left the nine tricky, and the real issue is whether one wants to hit the cue ball hard when it's against the rail. To me, the real choices were to jack up for good shape or pocket the eight softly and leave Nick a long, but makeable nine ball.
I think if you had a tape of all the times Niels had ever jacked up in a position like this, you'd find he has a high success rate. He just didn't execute it on this occasion, and that's why England made it out of the chair in the match-deciding rack. The Dutch had ball in hand and a problem free layout to win the title. Once they didn't complete the run out, they probably didn't deserve to win.
You're right about playing what the table gives you, but "what the table gives you" when you are the reigning World 9-ball champion and what it gives you if you are an amateur are two very different things.
