Earl Strickland at the Snooker World Championships?

Grantstew said:
Yeah, as far as I know, Alex Pagaluyan is about the best snooker player from North America, and he wasn't able to get through the qualifying for a tour card last year. Way easier to migrate from Snooker to Pool and make it to the top than vice versa.
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He got fairly close. I believe he was the second best finisher of those who failed to qualify. I'd like to see Alex try the IBSF World Championships as he would probably do quite well.

His best performance on the tour thus far is a 6-2 (high break 103) loss to Matthew Selt. The top 128 in the world is a big step up for anyone.
 
elizabeth9 said:
Actually, you are totally wrong...Earl and Stephen got along so well in China that when they played they had so much respect for each other that they both played using verbal techniques to taunt each other. It was out of respect and enjoyment being able to compete with one another. You and verify this with Earl or Stephen Hendry which Hendry tweeted I love this guy as well as posted numerous pics with Earl at the event while playing and off the table.:)
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Clearly, the video of the match shows it to be a bromance in full bloom. (I felt sorry for the referee who has probably never been so ignored by two men before.)
 
My $0.02 :

If they ever did this, it would be to appeal to their European fans, not North American ones. It might generate some interest in early round matches, where people would tune in for the show that Earl provides.

Earl is almost certain to lose. If Alex cannot crack pro snooker (yet?), Earl has no chance. Its not just that Alex has played the game much more, it is that his fundamentals are so much more in line with the demands of snooker. Earl's smooth loopy stroke, so deadly on a pool table, would kill him (in my view).

If Matchroom wants to see Earl playing pool, they should bring back the combined event that was on UK television years ago, (e.g. the Miz vs Steve Davis), where they played 8 ball and straight pool on a pool table and then snooker on a snooker table. Maybe make it 8 ball, 9 ball and snooker. Earl vs Hendry?

If Alex got an invitation to the worlds in snooker, I could see him with some chances in the early rounds.

Gideon
 
voiceofreason said:
Snooker is different not "harder" than pool (that debate has been done to death!) and is not the purpose of this thread really.

More interesting that Matchroom/Snooker are even thinking about invting pool players. It can only be to get the interest of the US market surely?
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Hahahaha not harder? Even on the 9ft table with those pockets earl was rattling simple shots and playing safe on others he would have rocketed in the pockets.. There equipment is MUCH harder. There best snooker players play 9 ball and they give our best all they want. I promise you that wouldn't true in reverse. Like I said earlier if american players could play it they would. The payouts are massive compared to ours and there treated like rock stars..they keep there ass playing rotation on 9 foot tables for a reason lol

There is video on you tube of Sullivan playing earl 9 ball going toe to toe. If they played snooker it would be the equivalent of earl playing most of us. He would toy with him like a child.
 
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Jaden said:
I wouldn't have to, I'd be too busy matching up with all the "D" players that think they can beat top level pool players...

Jaden
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Split the difference. Play those "D" players a game of "pool" on the snooker table, and see who wins. Or, do you only like your chances when the pockets are buckets, and the table is 3' shorter? Heck, take the D players down the road to play some bar box....you'll show 'em who's king ;)
 
no I was talking about playing them snooker...

Shawn Armstrong said:
Split the difference. Play those "D" players a game of "pool" on the snooker table, and see who wins. Or, do you only like your chances when the pockets are buckets, and the table is 3' shorter? Heck, take the D players down the road to play some bar box....you'll show 'em who's king ;)
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I'll play snooker 'D' players ALL day long...

Jaden
 
Pool cue with Z2 shaft and 3 week practice and Earl get better chance than anyone you can figure..
If Earl have to use snooker cue then he does not have chance. because taper is so different.
Snooker is possible play pool style quit well with Z2(or another similar small diameter low deflection) type shaft.
Im just B+ A- player probably and i made century break 12ft snooker table with new Z2 shaft 2nd time i played with it.

Of course Earl does not have chance if opponent is seasoned snooker player and playing solid match but even snooker pros have day offs sometimes.. :p
 
I can't see it happening. Earl with a wild card to the qualifying round - for what purpose? To showcase it on TV? He would be destroyed and it would be bad for the image of "American" pool. Lose-lose situation for all concerned. I could be wrong, and I would love to be wrong - he is, after all, older and wiser and with the right temperament he could win a frame or two and put up a fight and it could be a win for snooker, pool and Earl.

Alex Pagulayan has a chance against anyone in a short race if the balls roll good. He would be found out in the first, or possibly second round, proper. But it would be a win-win for all concerned and the crowds and the viewers would love him.
 
Swighey said:
I can't see it happening. Earl with a wild card to the qualifying round - for what purpose? To showcase it on TV? He would be destroyed and it would be bad for the image of "American" pool. Lose-lose situation for all concerned. I could be wrong, and I would love to be wrong - he is, after all, older and wiser and with the right temperament he could win a frame or two and put up a fight and it could be a win for snooker, pool and Earl.

Alex Pagulayan has a chance against anyone in a short race if the balls roll good. He would be found out in the first, or possibly second round, proper. But it would be a win-win for all concerned and the crowds and the viewers would love him.
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This was all news to Earl when he was contacted and told by viewers that Steve Davis mentioned this about him on TV during the afternoon session of the Masters Snooker Final :D
 
thewhiffer said:
True, it is more daunting, but a snooker table is only about 20.5 inches longer and 10 inches wider than the 10 footer Earl likes. Maybe a cerebral game like snooker would make him actually focus.


Agreed that his chances are not great but it would be fun to watch and that, folks, would be ENTERTAINMENT.
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Well put. Earl is still one of the greatest shotmakers to wield a cue.
I don't think sinking balls will be as much of a challenge as the tactical play.

I hope he does awesome and enjoys the challenge :thumbup:
 
Swighey said:
I can't see it happening. Earl with a wild card to the qualifying round - for what purpose? To showcase it on TV? He would be destroyed and it would be bad for the image of "American" pool. Lose-lose situation for all concerned. I could be wrong, and I would love to be wrong - he is, after all, older and wiser and with the right temperament he could win a frame or two and put up a fight and it could be a win for snooker, pool and Earl.

Alex Pagulayan has a chance against anyone in a short race if the balls roll good. He would be found out in the first, or possibly second round, proper. But it would be a win-win for all concerned and the crowds and the viewers would love him.
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I also think Alex would deserve wild card.. He is capable play serious level game and he is most entertaining player out there..
 
Listen to what the commentators in these two exhibition matches say about Mizerak's abilities, and the snooker potential of American pool players in general:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFtJ-HyV2Cc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6NMR3kxoQU

I can see Earl in his prime as having as much snooker potential as any American pool player that has ever lived. A little too late to launch a pro snooker career at this stage, but I'd pay to watch him play a few matches, that's for sure.
 
trob said:
i would be surprised to. Not that I don't think an american player could be a great snooker player but it's not something you can just go play. With the money out there for pro snooker players if american players could play it they would lol
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Since when is Allison Fisher an American player? :confused:
 
Love watching Earl play (when he's behaving), but I'm with everyone that says he has no chance if he plays.

I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't win a single frame.

But I disagree that it wouldn't be entertaining. Bloodbaths are also entertaining :p
 
I think if a pool player were to come as an invited player to play in the worlds then it cant just be anybody. They have to be able to play the game. They should hold a north American trial. Group all the players that want to come and play and play against each other. The 2 finalists get two wild cards. It at least shows they can play a little.

There are probably 6 lads at the club I play that could beat Alex P. More that could beat Earl. You don't want to get players invited purely because of their name. It will look bad on pool, and the snooker world already laughs at pool as a sport. Get someone that can put in a good show and someone that will have the public falling in love with them and won't make a mockery of pool. Efren would have been ideal. You cant help but like the guy when he plays with that smile of his all the time.
 
Pidge said:
I think if a pool player were to come as an invited player to play in the worlds then it cant just be anybody. They have to be able to play the game. They should hold a north American trial. Group all the players that want to come and play and play against each other. The 2 finalists get two wild cards. It at least shows they can play a little.

There are probably 6 lads at the club I play that could beat Alex P. More that could beat Earl. You don't want to get players invited purely because of their name. It will look bad on pool, and the snooker world already laughs at pool as a sport. Get someone that can put in a good show and someone that will have the public falling in love with them and won't make a mockery of pool. Efren would have been ideal. You cant help but like the guy when he plays with that smile of his all the time.
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I'm sure if Earl got invited he would spend some time on a snooker table. When I was a kid in a small town in Iowa the only place to play pool was a place called Elmers and they had 3 snooker tables and a 3 cushion billiard table, nothing else. The game requires an adjustment but isn't impossible as you suggest.
 
alstl said:
I'm sure if Earl got invited he would spend some time on a snooker table. When I was a kid in a small town in Iowa the only place to play pool was a place called Elmers and they had 3 snooker tables and a 3 cushion billiard table, nothing else. The game requires an adjustment but isn't impossible as you suggest.
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I never suggested the game was impossible just that Earls chances were impossible of making himself look good at the game. Around the country every club has a snooker player capable of competing against Earl now. With 3 weeks practice do you really think he could go from a decent amateur level to competing against the best the world has to offer? I've played snooker since the age of 6 and I can appreciate how bloody hard it is. Sure Earl can pot balls for fun, but does he have a snooker brain? The snooker brain and the pool brain couldn't be further apart. The tactical side of the game is what takes the longest to learn. And based on that, Earl doesn't stand a chance playing against guys who have been playing it their entire lives.
 
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