Agreed, and Mark Gray has been rightly critical of a team that would seem, on paper, to be the favorite to win the event. They're not playing very disciplined pool and will need to tidy it up.
World Cup of Pool - Day 4 Updates
- Thread starter Colin Colenso
- Start date
Agreed, and Mark Gray has been rightly critical of a team that would seem, on paper, to be the favorite to win the event. They're not playing very disciplined pool and will need to tidy it up.
His calculator is broke then cause each time he they swung at a bank there was an easier more defensive route to take. Both banks at the corner were incredibly wide, and that side pocket bank never threatened the pocket.
It's sometimes overlooked that a safe often only puts you to 60-40 advantage in a game, it's not a win.
Comparatively, a 50% bank chance, which if made, leads to a 90% win rate, combined with a 50% chance of getting safe, into a 60% win chance adds up statistically to an overall 36% + 30% = 66% chance of winning the frame.
We all know that ducking isn't always the way to go, but we may overlook the possibility, as I believe Mark Gray tends to do, of considering how more experienced players may interpret the more nuanced offensive strategies, and how this may change our perspective on what IS a percentage shot.
Colin
Remember the game isn't played on paper...
I'm still chuckling about that one Colin.
I'm still chuckling about that one Colin.
I recall some years ago some statisticians advised Sri Lanka to play more offensively early in Cricket to improve overall scoring performance, based on stats they had collected. They gave it a go and won the World Champsionships and since then, the other teams followed.
Just because some shots are traditional, or common practice, it doesn't make them the best option.
Anyway, time for more pool in 3 mins
Colin
Qatar v Czech Republic
Winner to play Japan in the last 8.
Qatar: Waleed Majid & Bashar Hussain
Czech Rep: Roman Hybler & Michal Gavenciak
Lag: Roman wins the lag over Bashar
Frame 1: Roman breaks. Makes wing ball and 1 in head rail corner. 2 is on but awkward. Michal plays fine cut to safe and hooks CR. Bashar jumps, hits the 2 but scratches. 8-9 looks to be lined up for a combo again. Roman tries to hold an angle instead of going 2 rails and misses thick. Qatar ignores the combination and just clears in order. Qatar 1-0
Frame 2: Bashar makes 1 in the side and gets a shot on the 2. Needs to swerve to make the 3. Nice shot rail first with 3 ball an inch off the rail. Waleed makes a nice 4 ball and they look to be out. Qatar runs out smoothly. 2-0
Frame 3: Waleed breaks. Makes a ball, hooked on 1 ball, heaps of power on the break and nice CB control. Bashar plays safe... mediocre result. Roman hooks them from the safe. Waleed escapes 1 rail with outside english and leaves it pretty safe. Michal flubs it, big chance for Qatar. Waleed makes a lovely and smooth long 2 ball and they should be out now. And they are, and Waleed looks like a star in the making, cool and smooth with a dead eye. Qatar 3-0
Frame 4: Bashar makes the 3 wing ball. Leaves Waleed a bank to the side which he middles.Bashar misses a pretty easy longish straight 2 ball.Roman returns the favor missing an easy cut badly. Waleed says enough of this crap and caroms off the 2 ball into the 9 and makes the game ball. Qatar 4-0.
Waleed didn't actually say that, but he's the man of the match by a mile so far.
Frame 5: Waleed to break. He loaded up on that one, and hit them great, made a wing ball but a ball hit the CB into the corner pocket. Roman plays a trick shot from 2 to get on the 3, which his partner wobbles in with a fine cut, for what should be frame. Czechs clear up, a little tentatively and trail 1-4.
Frame 6: Michal breaks. 1 in center, 4 wing ball in, and a tester on the 2 ball. Roman makes it, just misses the side jaw and sits up too close to the 3 ball. Nice safe from Michal. Bashar misses a tough safe or pot and leaves the 3 on. Czeck clears, but not with impressive control and trail 2-4.
Frame 7: Roman breaks. Last 2 balls moving drop in and 9 just misses in the side. Very long 1 to make. Michal stuns it in nicely. Another tough 2 to get on the 3 with inside probably. He makes it but scratches after going across and back. Bashar caroms off the 3 into the 8 and opens up the 4 ball. They should be out. Waleed gets Bashar a little close to the rail for the 7 but he manages the 2 railer to the 8. Bashar wobbles an easy 9 in to move Qatar to 5-2.
Frame 8: Bahsar makes the 1 in the head rail corner pocket and leaves a tough 2 ball, which Waleed plays lazily and leaves kind of safe. Roman with a nice bank across to the corner and CR should clear up. And they do, and looking more relaxed now. Czechs trail 3-5 now.
Frame 9: Michal breaks. Make 1 in side and a 5 wing ball. But 2 is 9 feet away on the rail. Roman pushes the 8 ball up to make the 2 a tempter. They send him back. He tries the cut rail first and just misses but leaves it tricky, but Waleed slides it in with ease. Waleed plays a beautiful stun through outside english shot from 4 to 6 ball. Bashar overcomes some nerves to make the 6 using the rest and Qatar is out and on the hill 6-3.
Frame 10: Waleed breaks and makes the wing 3 ball. Bashar pushes out to leave a tricky safety or pot on the 1. They send Bashar back and he leaves a long shot on the 1. Nice pot, but Roman needs another nice one on the 2. Lovely pot from Ronan and they are in line now. Ronan loses the CB to the 6. Michal didn't know how to get back on line so safety time, or long bank. Simple safety by Roman. Waleed the magician to play. Another simple safe. Michal misses a pretty easy hook shot. Bashar makes a nice cross back bank and it's match to QATAR!!! 7-3
Winner to play Japan in the last 8.
Qatar: Waleed Majid & Bashar Hussain
Czech Rep: Roman Hybler & Michal Gavenciak
Lag: Roman wins the lag over Bashar
Frame 1: Roman breaks. Makes wing ball and 1 in head rail corner. 2 is on but awkward. Michal plays fine cut to safe and hooks CR. Bashar jumps, hits the 2 but scratches. 8-9 looks to be lined up for a combo again. Roman tries to hold an angle instead of going 2 rails and misses thick. Qatar ignores the combination and just clears in order. Qatar 1-0
Frame 2: Bashar makes 1 in the side and gets a shot on the 2. Needs to swerve to make the 3. Nice shot rail first with 3 ball an inch off the rail. Waleed makes a nice 4 ball and they look to be out. Qatar runs out smoothly. 2-0
Frame 3: Waleed breaks. Makes a ball, hooked on 1 ball, heaps of power on the break and nice CB control. Bashar plays safe... mediocre result. Roman hooks them from the safe. Waleed escapes 1 rail with outside english and leaves it pretty safe. Michal flubs it, big chance for Qatar. Waleed makes a lovely and smooth long 2 ball and they should be out now. And they are, and Waleed looks like a star in the making, cool and smooth with a dead eye. Qatar 3-0
Frame 4: Bashar makes the 3 wing ball. Leaves Waleed a bank to the side which he middles.Bashar misses a pretty easy longish straight 2 ball.Roman returns the favor missing an easy cut badly. Waleed says enough of this crap and caroms off the 2 ball into the 9 and makes the game ball. Qatar 4-0.
Waleed didn't actually say that, but he's the man of the match by a mile so far.
Frame 5: Waleed to break. He loaded up on that one, and hit them great, made a wing ball but a ball hit the CB into the corner pocket. Roman plays a trick shot from 2 to get on the 3, which his partner wobbles in with a fine cut, for what should be frame. Czechs clear up, a little tentatively and trail 1-4.
Frame 6: Michal breaks. 1 in center, 4 wing ball in, and a tester on the 2 ball. Roman makes it, just misses the side jaw and sits up too close to the 3 ball. Nice safe from Michal. Bashar misses a tough safe or pot and leaves the 3 on. Czeck clears, but not with impressive control and trail 2-4.
Frame 7: Roman breaks. Last 2 balls moving drop in and 9 just misses in the side. Very long 1 to make. Michal stuns it in nicely. Another tough 2 to get on the 3 with inside probably. He makes it but scratches after going across and back. Bashar caroms off the 3 into the 8 and opens up the 4 ball. They should be out. Waleed gets Bashar a little close to the rail for the 7 but he manages the 2 railer to the 8. Bashar wobbles an easy 9 in to move Qatar to 5-2.
Frame 8: Bahsar makes the 1 in the head rail corner pocket and leaves a tough 2 ball, which Waleed plays lazily and leaves kind of safe. Roman with a nice bank across to the corner and CR should clear up. And they do, and looking more relaxed now. Czechs trail 3-5 now.
Frame 9: Michal breaks. Make 1 in side and a 5 wing ball. But 2 is 9 feet away on the rail. Roman pushes the 8 ball up to make the 2 a tempter. They send him back. He tries the cut rail first and just misses but leaves it tricky, but Waleed slides it in with ease. Waleed plays a beautiful stun through outside english shot from 4 to 6 ball. Bashar overcomes some nerves to make the 6 using the rest and Qatar is out and on the hill 6-3.
Frame 10: Waleed breaks and makes the wing 3 ball. Bashar pushes out to leave a tricky safety or pot on the 1. They send Bashar back and he leaves a long shot on the 1. Nice pot, but Roman needs another nice one on the 2. Lovely pot from Ronan and they are in line now. Ronan loses the CB to the 6. Michal didn't know how to get back on line so safety time, or long bank. Simple safety by Roman. Waleed the magician to play. Another simple safe. Michal misses a pretty easy hook shot. Bashar makes a nice cross back bank and it's match to QATAR!!! 7-3
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Agreed that some of Taiwan's play rates as aggressive but reasonable, but other choices crossed outside the boundaries of high percentage pool.
I think we'll see a more careful Team Taiwan when it aces a tougher opponent.
If they had another Waleed Majid in their team I'd say maybe. But who knows in short races.
That's what I am thinking, although after more review Ko really is more of an aggressive player. In this format it looks like the aggression is rewarded. I look forward to some tighter more controlled play in the next round. They are on a collision course with England A and that team is playing like they want the repeat championship.
Those guys are gelling, they are in for a tough test next round!!!
Singapore v Finland Round 2
Winner to play winner of England B v Philippines
Singapore: Aloysius Yapp & Chan Keng Kwang
Finland: Mika Immonen & Petri Makkonen
Yapp wins the lag.
Frame 1: Yapp breaks, 1 in the side. Very fine cut on the 2 if he wants it. Safety leaves Finland hooked, but jump chance. Mika messes up the jump and fouls, not getting height. Layout looks fine for Singapore. The young Singapore guns are running through the layout like a hot knife through butter. They clear and go to a lead of 1-0.
Meanwhile Ted Lerner continues his socialist rant about how great government support of sports is.
Frame 2: Chan breaks dry and Finland are straight into clearing up. Mika loses the line on the 5 and Makkonen swerves and misses but leaves the 5 tricky. Yapp tries the bank, almost scratches and makes a triple. Chan misses a pretty easy 8 cut into the side. Table is tightening up. Finland clear to even it at 1-1.
Table seems to be playing slower and taking side off the rails and balls staying out of pockets more tonight. There is a crowd there tonight. That may be part of it... maybe extra humidity.
Frame 3. Makkonen breaks, not as hard as usual. 1 ball in side. Leaves a long straight 2 ball and Mika hits it firm and it grabs onto the jaws and stays there. Yapp plays an awful shot, was underdrawing from 3 to 4, but Chan checks it just enough to stay on line. Singapore wins and leads 2-1.
Frame 4: Yapp makes the 1 in the side. On the 2, but it's very hard to make. Chang plays a lovely hook safe. Mika swerves to hit it off the end rail and leaves the 2 straight on. But Yapp misses it badly. Perti makes the 2, leaves a tricky 3 but Mika makes it. Finland should be out now. Finland worked their way through the clearance, but not in the zone. 2-2
Frame 5: Mika breaks. Wing 8 ball in. Tricky on the 1.Petri makes a lovely pot and position with outside 2 rails. Mika gets too straight on the 3. Petri gets half way to the 4, still a chance. Mika makes it. Petri plays 5 to 6 perfectly, maybe shot of the day, as 6 would only go to a pocket 9 feet away. Nice clearance by Finland. They lead 3-2.
Frame 6: Makkonen almost breaks dry, but 3 balls drop in from nowhere. Mika snookered on the 3 though, so they push out. Singapore gives it back. Mika leaves the 3 open. If Singapore manages the 5 ball, they should finish..... the kids seem to disagree, but Yapp makes the 5 and comes up nice on the 6. Chan misses into the same side pocket again... it seems to be playing tight, or he's psyched out by it. Finland robs it and moves to 4-2.
Frame 7: Lost stream and missed the break, but Chan just played a terrible attempt to hook off the 2 ball. Oh, Finland broke dry and Singapore was pushing out, and got sent back in. Makkonen get a hook on the 1, Yapp will jump. He combos the 1 into the 5, very lucky and gets Chan lovely on the 1, but he caroms the 2 poorly. Yapp's safety fails and Finland should be out here. They are and lead 5-2 now.
Frame 8: Big Mak breaks dry, shooting medium speed and leaves the 1 up perfect. Chan rushes a stun shot and leaves a crap straight angle for Yapp, Yapp tries to force position but leaves a hard 4 ball. Chan makes it fine into the side and they should be out, but some tension between them. Well, Yapp not happy with Chan's silly choices mainly I think. They run out and move to 3-5.
Frame 9: Chan breaks dry and SCRATCHES. OUCH! No clusters! Finland should clear up. Mika had to make a nice 4, now a tester for Mak. He does ok, now a fine cut on the 6 which Mika plays perfectly. They clear and climb to the hill 6-3.
Frame 10: Mika slams them but it's dry. Leaves a shot on the 1 and Yapp plays a sweet draw but goes 6 inches too far. Chan plays a fine cut off the 2 for a very nice safety. Mak hits the 2 ball off 2 rails but sets it up. Lovely drag swerve by Yapp to leave Chan sweet on the 3 ball. Only the 5 should stop them. They get the 5, long 6 now. The world junior champion knocks it in but leave a 1/4 ball on the 7. He pots it clean and moves 3 rails to the 8. Yapp makes a cut but has to carom the 9, another tester for Chan. And Chan earns his wage on the 9. Singapore trail 4-6.
Frame 11: Yapp breaks. Dry. 1 going high on the side pocket now. Mika perfect on the 1. Layout is perfect and 8-9 combo looks on again. They play the 8 in the side instead of the combo and clear. Finland wins 7-4.
Yapp plays nice, but needs to stay at the table to keep in stroke I think, and maybe intimidate with his smooth and fast playing.
Colin
Winner to play winner of England B v Philippines
Singapore: Aloysius Yapp & Chan Keng Kwang
Finland: Mika Immonen & Petri Makkonen
Yapp wins the lag.
Frame 1: Yapp breaks, 1 in the side. Very fine cut on the 2 if he wants it. Safety leaves Finland hooked, but jump chance. Mika messes up the jump and fouls, not getting height. Layout looks fine for Singapore. The young Singapore guns are running through the layout like a hot knife through butter. They clear and go to a lead of 1-0.
Meanwhile Ted Lerner continues his socialist rant about how great government support of sports is.
Frame 2: Chan breaks dry and Finland are straight into clearing up. Mika loses the line on the 5 and Makkonen swerves and misses but leaves the 5 tricky. Yapp tries the bank, almost scratches and makes a triple. Chan misses a pretty easy 8 cut into the side. Table is tightening up. Finland clear to even it at 1-1.
Table seems to be playing slower and taking side off the rails and balls staying out of pockets more tonight. There is a crowd there tonight. That may be part of it... maybe extra humidity.
Frame 3. Makkonen breaks, not as hard as usual. 1 ball in side. Leaves a long straight 2 ball and Mika hits it firm and it grabs onto the jaws and stays there. Yapp plays an awful shot, was underdrawing from 3 to 4, but Chan checks it just enough to stay on line. Singapore wins and leads 2-1.
Frame 4: Yapp makes the 1 in the side. On the 2, but it's very hard to make. Chang plays a lovely hook safe. Mika swerves to hit it off the end rail and leaves the 2 straight on. But Yapp misses it badly. Perti makes the 2, leaves a tricky 3 but Mika makes it. Finland should be out now. Finland worked their way through the clearance, but not in the zone. 2-2
Frame 5: Mika breaks. Wing 8 ball in. Tricky on the 1.Petri makes a lovely pot and position with outside 2 rails. Mika gets too straight on the 3. Petri gets half way to the 4, still a chance. Mika makes it. Petri plays 5 to 6 perfectly, maybe shot of the day, as 6 would only go to a pocket 9 feet away. Nice clearance by Finland. They lead 3-2.
Frame 6: Makkonen almost breaks dry, but 3 balls drop in from nowhere. Mika snookered on the 3 though, so they push out. Singapore gives it back. Mika leaves the 3 open. If Singapore manages the 5 ball, they should finish..... the kids seem to disagree, but Yapp makes the 5 and comes up nice on the 6. Chan misses into the same side pocket again... it seems to be playing tight, or he's psyched out by it. Finland robs it and moves to 4-2.
Frame 7: Lost stream and missed the break, but Chan just played a terrible attempt to hook off the 2 ball. Oh, Finland broke dry and Singapore was pushing out, and got sent back in. Makkonen get a hook on the 1, Yapp will jump. He combos the 1 into the 5, very lucky and gets Chan lovely on the 1, but he caroms the 2 poorly. Yapp's safety fails and Finland should be out here. They are and lead 5-2 now.
Frame 8: Big Mak breaks dry, shooting medium speed and leaves the 1 up perfect. Chan rushes a stun shot and leaves a crap straight angle for Yapp, Yapp tries to force position but leaves a hard 4 ball. Chan makes it fine into the side and they should be out, but some tension between them. Well, Yapp not happy with Chan's silly choices mainly I think. They run out and move to 3-5.
Frame 9: Chan breaks dry and SCRATCHES. OUCH! No clusters! Finland should clear up. Mika had to make a nice 4, now a tester for Mak. He does ok, now a fine cut on the 6 which Mika plays perfectly. They clear and climb to the hill 6-3.
Frame 10: Mika slams them but it's dry. Leaves a shot on the 1 and Yapp plays a sweet draw but goes 6 inches too far. Chan plays a fine cut off the 2 for a very nice safety. Mak hits the 2 ball off 2 rails but sets it up. Lovely drag swerve by Yapp to leave Chan sweet on the 3 ball. Only the 5 should stop them. They get the 5, long 6 now. The world junior champion knocks it in but leave a 1/4 ball on the 7. He pots it clean and moves 3 rails to the 8. Yapp makes a cut but has to carom the 9, another tester for Chan. And Chan earns his wage on the 9. Singapore trail 4-6.
Frame 11: Yapp breaks. Dry. 1 going high on the side pocket now. Mika perfect on the 1. Layout is perfect and 8-9 combo looks on again. They play the 8 in the side instead of the combo and clear. Finland wins 7-4.
Yapp plays nice, but needs to stay at the table to keep in stroke I think, and maybe intimidate with his smooth and fast playing.
Colin
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Who's in for an upset against Finland, I like the lefty on Singapore a whole lot. Finland's team is built for this though, also a very aggressive team.
Uh oh little nervousness from Finland out of the gate, 2 big mistakes. I just have a feeling the Singapore power duo is going to squeak by 7-5
poorly hit 8 ball opens the door for Finland to wash away all their sins...1-1 and just that simple I think they let go of the tiger they caught by the tail
Finland up 3-2...Mika looks like he's getting into one of his sick zones. This is why he's a world champion, he hits this certain speed and brings his partner with him. Singapore better take full advantage if they get another chance.
2 simple side pocket shots that Singapore has missed has reversed the score line...Finland going up 4-2 now
