WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP (6-10 June2021) Champion $50K

Omar, for his credit, seems to be trying to avoid giving Albin wide open layouts, but pursuing offensive opportunities when he should. It didn't work last rack, with Albin making a nice shot and running out, but Omar is doing what he needs to do. I hope it's enough. Albin is playing offensively well, but his defensive game is a bit behind Omar's at the moment, IMO.
 
And to follow that up, Omar converts a defensive battle win into a tie game at 4-4.
 
A poor safety by Albin enables Omar to win the race to the first good shot, and he completes the runout for 4-4. As poor as Albin has been playing the moves game all day, he needs to stay out of these racks. in which he has to fight for control of the table.
 
JusticeNJ said:
Omar, for his credit, seems to be trying to avoid giving Albin wide open layouts, but pursuing offensive opportunities when he should. It didn't work last rack, with Albin making a nice shot and running out, but Omar is doing what he needs to do. I hope it's enough. Albin is playing offensively well, but his defensive game is a bit behind Omar's at the moment, IMO.
Click to expand...
Exactly right. Albin kicks well but his safeties are weak and engaging him in tactical warfare is Omar's best shot.

Omar scratches on the break in rack 9, so this won't be a tactical rack. It's just what Albin needs, and he makes no mistake about it, running out confidently to regain the lead, 5-4.

Best match of the day so far, by a lot. Hope the drama continues.
 
Hard to find fault with Omar's game so far. The last scratch was due to being kicked in the pocket after the break. His position play is not as tight as Albin's, but his overall game is strong! Hope he can keep it up. The issue for Omar is that Albin has more or less punished every error Omar has made. It really is a good final.
 
Albin's tactical cluelessness continues as he breaks one of the ten commandments of tactical play, pushing into a two way shot. Omar misses, but the built in safety is enough to win control of the table. Lely was generous calling it "not very sharp" but it was absolutely terrible and was one of the worst tactical shots I've seen this week. Albin fouls off the kick, a result that Boyes noted was a significant danger on the kick he chose. Omar gets ball in hand, and we are tied at 5-5.

Lely's earlier comment about Omar's experience in one pocket and bank pool being valuable has proved wise. Omar's tactical edge has kept him in the match.
 
Omar's safety in rack 11 isn't very good, and Albin plays a sweet masse to extend the safety battle. He eventually makes a nice one nine combination. It was a very exciting and well played rack by Albin and he's deservedly back on top 6-5.
 
This match reminds me of that old boxing aphorism that "styles make fights" (true or not). It's got some shades of "Thunder meets Lightning". Omar made lemonade out of lemons last rack and is showing he can land some punches of his own! No one can seem to get too far ahead of the other.
 
Ridiculous nitpick, but Albin's slouched posture, nonchalant body language, and sort of languid pace around the table is irritating to me as a viewer. Especially when combined with his often elite level of play. It's a weird juxtaposition.

Filler can be somewhat irritating as well, but it's hard to fault a guy acting arrogant and "forceful" in his mannerisms when he plays so well. But Albin just kinda slinks around the table like he'd rather be somewhere else.
 
Rack 12 is a tug of war. Albin tries a difficult carom of the one to make the nine, and isn't quite up to it. Omar bets the rack on a tricky four nine combo and hits it like a dream. We're tied at 6-6. My prediction of 13-6 isn't looking very good. Most of you had Omar keeping this close, so I'll stand corrected.
 
What I believe was his first break and run of the match gives Omar his first lead at 7-6.
 
Albin seems hell bent on giving Omar the best possible pushouts he can lol. Omar plays the right safety, Albin kicks it in, blows a safety, and leaves Omar straight in.
 
Well, Omar's bane of missing open shots has shown up. And that's not something Albin is going to do. That could cost him a few racks now.
 
Dry break in rack 13 leaves the balls poorly spread. Omar opts to shoot after a very passive push by Albin. Omar execute a relatively routine safety effectively. Albin kicks it in two rails but has to let the cue ball fly around the table.. Albin unable to execute the safety on the two ball, selling out, but Omar's miss of the four ball rescues him and Albin runs out to tie the match at 7-7. This might be a major turning point.
 
Omar is doing what David failed to do- bringing the game to Albin.

The question is, if Omar can keep up that grindy vibe of this final.
I still have the feeling that sooner or later Albin will get back in the balls and put 2 or 3 racks together to open up a lead he can defend till the end...even if it takes a one or two lucky rolls to do so.
Eventhough Omar is fighting hard, I can`t see him stumble over the finish line somehow.
 
JusticeNJ said:
Well, Omar's bane of missing open shots has shown up. And that's not something Albin is going to do. That could cost him a few racks now.
Click to expand...
Time to eat crow. Albin missed a dream of a layout, leaving Omar a cosmo. Unreal.
 
Well, Albin gave it right back with that miss in the next rack to give Omar an easy 3 ball win.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top