Were you around (or even alive) during the IPT days? The IPT tournaments (playing 8-ball) were the most enjoyable tournaments I've ever followed/watched (online). To me, there is nothing is more enjoyable than watching Efren weave through a complicated rack of 8-ball.
I enjoyed watching the IPT events as well and I went to all but the battle of the sexes before the King of the Hill. But as a good competition, the game was too easy. I remember one match -- Marlon Manalo was in it, but I don't remember who his opponent was -- that was a race to 13 and it went hill-hill, so 25 games were played. In those 25 games, all but one finished in a single inning. The breaker won from the break, or he missed and the opponent ran out, except for one rack.
I hear you. But considering that Efren won two of them and Hohmann won the other, I don't think the format was too easy. I think the round robin format definitely helped make the "Law of large numbers" come more into play.
Agreed. It was definitely true of Jeanette Lee.
Yes, but for an attendee the IPT events were not as good. I attended IPT Las Vegas at the Venetian in 2006. I'd guess that over twenty tables were roped off so that there was nowhere to get a good view of anything but the few tables on the perimeter. From a fan's point of view, the planning of the competitive space lacked insight on the part of the event producers. Of course, as so many of pool's insiders from back then have noted, the IPT shunned the advice of those offering it, including top event producers of that period and every governing body of the sport.
Good post.
Wow. So I get from this that you consider Kaci the better player?- if both have A game Kaci wins.
Filler is the better player, and has a more complete skill set than Kaci, but Kaci possesses a 10ball break that has already enabled him to win the World 10ball twice. Josh would be the clear favorite in any other game, but given Kaci's break and his current form, we know he has a gear that we've rarely ever seen at 10ball. I think this match is almost dead even on paper, almost impossible to call. I might call Josh a 6/5 favorite, but that's all.
Sjm specifically referred to Kaci’s 10 ball break. It’s perhaps the best in the world and notably better than Filler’s. It’s a huge weapon, and once he dialed it in, Kaci was able to come back and beat Capito with a bunch of break and runs.
Pain
Thanks, easy to find. I didn't know who I was sifting for. Is the girl that good?
I cannot believe he came back. Talk about having your back against the wall. One of the commentators made the statement that Kaci needed to realize he wasn’t down 11-6 in a race to 12, but down 2-1 in a best of 5.