Diamond Las Vegas Open

Don't know if this has been asked, but let me ask away. What's the point of having a referee if they are not racking for the players? Or are they not racking because the non streamed tables have no refs racking and they want to make it the same across everything?

Also, I noticed something during the souquet/immonen match. Are the only balls required to be in a certain spot in the rack the one and ten balls? I thought the 2 and 3 were supposed to be in the bottom corners?
 
hawaiianeye said:
chang for the win.

9-5
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To state the obvious, JL Chang is a stone cold killer.

While many see him as the world's best action player, he's coming up very big in tournament play, too. Over the past fifteen months, he has won the 2019 Bigfoot 10-ball, came second in the 2019 WPA World 9-ball championship, and now he has won the 2020 Diamond 10 ball over a very elite field.

Let's face it, the guy is a player. I'll also take note that he's became just a little more animated at the table, and is more fun to watch than he used to be. I was, of course, hoping Justin Bergman would snap off the event, but I'll give credit where it's due. Well played, JL Chang.
 
sjm said:
To state the obvious, JL Chang is a stone cold killer.

While many see him as the world's best action player, he's coming up very big in tournament play, too. Over the past fifteen months, he has won the 2019 Bigfoot 10-ball, came second in the 2019 WPA World 9-ball championship, and now he has won the 2020 Diamond 10 ball over a very elite field.

Let's face it, the guy is a player. I'll also take note that he's became just a little more animated at the table, and is more fun to watch than he used to be. I was, of course, hoping Justin Bergman would snap off the event, but I'll give credit where it's due. Well played, JL Chang.
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I root for my Taiwan boys no matter who they are playing.

They don't mess around and they play monster pool.

Taiwan and I go back many, many years.
 
sjm said:
To state the obvious, JL Chang is a stone cold killer.

While many see him as the world's best action player, he's coming up very big in tournament play, too. Over the past fifteen months, he has won the 2019 Bigfoot 10-ball, came second in the 2019 WPA World 9-ball championship, and now he has won the 2020 Diamond 10 ball over a very elite field.

Let's face it, the guy is a player. I'll also take note that he's became just a little more animated at the table, and is more fun to watch than he used to be. I was, of course, hoping Justin Bergman would snap off the event, but I'll give credit where it's due. Well played, JL Chang.
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Agreed Stu. Chang makes very few mistakes, mental or physical. The man seems so know the the odds on every shot and where to leave the cue ball that has the best odds. James is very tough to beat right now and has been working hard, it won't be long before he is the top of the food chain.
 
Cuebuddy said:
Agreed Stu. Chang makes very few mistakes, mental or physical. The man seems so know the the odds on every shot and where to leave the cue ball that has the best odds. James is very tough to beat right now and has been working hard, it won't be long before he is the top of the food chain.
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I would never consider him "top of the food chain" if the top Taiwanese and Chinese players are in town.
 
Tzahng (Chinese are horrible spellers it seems) has inspired me ever since those Worlds' in the 2000s. You figure on the guy winning period but, or so, I rooted for Aranas and he looked good until those late flinches crept in; short on dues maybe.
 
Cuebuddy said:
Agreed Stu. Chang makes very few mistakes, mental or physical. The man seems so know the the odds on every shot and where to leave the cue ball that has the best odds. James is very tough to beat right now and has been working hard, it won't be long before he is the top of the food chain.
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James has the break, shotmaking and position play skills to beat anyone on the planet any time, but I feel he is not yet a good grinder -- meaning he doesn't prevail often enough in racks that are fought for.

If he can improve his tactical conceptualization and further develop his defense and kicking, he can become a top five in the world player, but I've not seen much development in this area over the past couple of years. He should take a good long look at his 2020 Derby City matches against Lee Vann Corteza, in which he was outmaneuvered by a more experienced and more thoughtful player.

Aranas is a rare talent with the potential to get to the very top of our sport, but at least for now, I don't see him getting there. That said, though, his game can be overpowering and I think he's capable of snapping off something big at some point.
 
sjm said:
James has the break, shotmaking and position play skills to beat anyone on the planet any time, but I feel he is not yet a good grinder -- meaning he doesn't prevail often enough in racks that are fought for.

If he can improve his tactical conceptualization and further develop his defense and kicking, he can become a top five in the world player, but I've not seen much development in this area over the past couple of years. He should take a good long look at his 2020 Derby City matches against Lee Vann Corteza, in which he was outmaneuvered by a more experienced and more thoughtful player.

Aranas is a rare talent with the potential to get to the very top of our sport, but at least for now, I don't see him getting there. That said, though, his game can be overpowering and I think he's capable of snapping off something big at some point.
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It was night and day between his hot seat match win over Chang and the Finals. In the first match he played almost perfect pool, never getting out of line and handling every rack with calm precision. He looked totally focused and unflappable at all times.

Something happened to him internally while he waited for his opponent in the finals. He just didn't look the same or present himself in the same way. He seemed distracted and not so focused as he was before. He was not ready for the moment and flinched a couple of times on his follow through, missing badly. His cue ball/speed control wasn't there either. He just wasn't the same player.

If he can get past that kind of mental breakdown he is capable of winning anything. IMO he has the talent. He's shown that. I wish I had been there to give him a little coaching before the final match. I've got a really good idea of what he needed to hear to stay on track.
 
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jay helfert said:
It was night and day between his hot seat match win over Chang and the Finals. In the first match he played almost perfect pool, never getting out of line and handling every rack with calm precision. He looked totally focused and unflappable at all times.

Something happened to him internally while he waited for his opponent in the finals. He just didn't look the same or present himself in the same way. He seemed distracted and not so focused as he was before. He was not ready for the moment and flinched a couple of times on his follow through, missing badly. His cue ball/speed control wasn't there either. He just wasn't the same player.

If he can get past that kind of mental breakdown he is capable of winning anything. IMO he has the talent. He's shown that. I wish I had been there to give him a little coaching before the final match. I've got a really good idea of what he needed to hear to stay on track.
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What everyone is describing here is not unique to pool in terms of great sports talents who often perform CLOSE to the top of their profession; but fail to become consistently great at their chosen field. I am not talking about"flash in the pan" types who dominate for short periods and then just disappear. I am talking about the truly skilled and talented who, for some reason, either refuse to, or fail to develop the finer points of their chosen sport to truly dominate at the highest levels. Besides that; there have been some in every sport who, for reasons we may never understand, but many have tried to explain in endless sports psychology books, just cannot develop the mental forces needed to compete in a dominating fashion at the highest levels consistently.
I think that most of the true greats in sports ARE wired to win mentally right from the start; combined with the ability and willingness to develop great skills. Then there are those who are blessed with great skill; hone it ; and also have such a burning desire to dominate that they persist at every finer point of their sport until they are the BEST; and then have the ability, mentally, to maintain that mindset over time.
Can great "coaching" help some get "over the hump" and enlighten them as to what aspects of their game need to be honed? Sometimes yes and sometimes no; it will be interesting to see how this develops with the player that we are speaking of at this time.
 
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jay helfert said:
It was night and day between his hot seat match win over Chang and the Finals. In the first match he played almost perfect pool, never getting out of line and handling every rack with calm precision. He looked totally focused and unflappable at all times.

Something happened to him internally while he waited for his opponent in the finals. He just didn't look the same or present himself in the same way. He seemed distracted and not so focused as he was before. He was not ready for the moment and flinched a couple of times on his follow through, missing badly. His cue ball/speed control wasn't there either. He just wasn't the same player.

If he can get past that kind of mental breakdown he is capable of winning anything. IMO he has the talent. He's shown that. I wish I had been there to give him a little coaching before the final match. I've got a really good idea of what he needed to hear to stay on track.
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This is a totally different environment than Roy’s Basement and Bogies and I think Aranas was out of that element. I’ve often criticized him for his appearance in videos and the fact it does not project a good image of the sport. At Bogies he hangs with Gómez the Houseman at Bogies who I think should project a more professional image and stop dressing like a sewer rat. You may think my comment is trivial or arrogant but if your going to hold yourself out as a pro you need to have that demeanor and appearance wherever you appear. He now represents Predator. He should think about his sponsor. When he does discard that gang bangers hat, flip flops and shorts he makes a very good appearance. He should adopt that persona. Corey Duel is a good role model. Aranas and pool will benefit.
 
Chang plays at that high level so consistently that the heat is hard to fade. Some do but Aranas isn't ready. Yet. BTW. Does anyone know what shaft Chang was using? Real shiny.
 
btal said:
Chang plays at that high level so consistently that the heat is hard to fade. Some do but Aranas isn't ready. Yet. BTW. Does anyone know what shaft Chang was using? Real shiny.
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I watched Chang at last yrs US Open, he does get flustered and out of character with that format.

Chang doesn't enjoy those large packages and Huge back/forth emotional match swings....Which....a winner break format brings.

It takes a special player to win four or five US Open 9 ball events....period.

Alternate break format he thrives in, but in a winner break, he lets the ebb and flow of match play effect his demeanor.
 
Island Drive said:
I watched Chang at last yrs US Open, he does get flustered and out of character with that format.

Chang doesn't enjoy those large packages and Huge back/forth emotional match swings....Which....a winner break format brings.

It takes a special player to win four or five US Open 9 ball events....period.

Alternate break format he thrives in, but in a winner break, he lets the ebb and flow of match play effect his demeanor.
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Have you seen his gambling matches? I understand him to be one of the best.
Are those matches alternate break? I'm curious. I do agree that winner breaks
, as you've observed, changes his comfort zone in tournaments. I personally
think that the alternate break format is the highest pressure format in tournament
pool today. The great break, that can result in packs, is not as big of a factor.
And it shouldn't be. IMO
 
Island Drive said:
I watched Chang at last yrs US Open, he does get flustered and out of character with that format.

Chang doesn't enjoy those large packages and Huge back/forth emotional match swings....Which....a winner break format brings.

It takes a special player to win four or five US Open 9 ball events....period.

Alternate break format he thrives in, but in a winner break, he lets the ebb and flow of match play effect his demeanor.
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Chang has had multiple top 5 finishes in big winner break events.

Including winning the 2018 International Open.
 
Seems like several times, Chang has came back from the B side to win in a single game finals format.

I dont think its fair for the hot seat winner, but its the agreed upon rules.
 
BeiberLvr said:
Chang has had multiple top 5 finishes in big winner break events.

Including winning the 2018 International Open.
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When he wins as many US Open 9 ball events as Earl or Shane, then I'll become a true believer. I don't doubt his prowess or what and his wins, but character traits of thee best in all sports is a special person. Nadal, Woods, Earl, SVB, Lassiter, Mosconi. I just don't see the total package yet is all. He needs to roll with it a little more....then he'll get more. Being too rigid with ones character does not help one create, Efren qualities. You gotta be nice to the man in the mirror....
 
Island Drive said:
When he wins as many US Open 9 ball events as Earl or Shane, then I'll become a true believer. I don't doubt his prowess or what and his wins, but character traits of thee best in all sports is a special person. Nadal, Woods, Earl, SVB, Lassiter, Mosconi. I just don't see the total package yet is all. He needs to roll with it a little more....then he'll get more. Being too rigid with ones character does not help one create, Efren qualities. You gotta be nice to the man in the mirror....
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You're right, Chang is terrible in winner break format


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

(fast forward to around the 32 minute mark to the beginning of the package)
 
Island Drive said:
When he wins as many US Open 9 ball events as Earl or Shane, then I'll become a true believer. I don't doubt his prowess or what and his wins, but character traits of thee best in all sports is a special person. Nadal, Woods, Earl, SVB, Lassiter, Mosconi. I just don't see the total package yet is all. He needs to roll with it a little more....then he'll get more. Being too rigid with ones character does not help one create, Efren qualities. You gotta be nice to the man in the mirror....
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The man is traveling all over the world and taking scalps.

Give him some credit.
 
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