When it comes to who is a better choice Corey Deuel or Max Eberle in the team this year...
Well I didn't watch any matches they played in the Kremlin Cup yet but I'm going to watch a hill-hill match Ruslan vs Max. At least I have an interest.
What I did watch closely are those both great matches vs young talent Fedor Gorst during Dream challenge. Both were great battles which ended up in the deciders. And if to be short the truth is very cruel in this sport...when you have your chance on a finish line you either take it or you fail and lose. I guess I know this sport good enough to say this crucial difference comes from what is in your head and your heart. Long story short Corey failed being on the finish line and Max closed the deal...
Do you know there was also something like training camp Johan held during this time USA team was in Moscow with all the USA team participants and the Russian team with those who participated in Dream challenge. There was one exception for my countryman Vitaliy Patsura who participated too. One of the reasons there were 6 americans and 5 russians = 11 and Johan needed an even number of participants because he divided them in pairs with 1 american and 1 russian in each pair. Vitaliy practised in pair with Max Eberle. Being young talented player one of the Billiard brothers and a good friend also helped. So as Vitaliy is also a friend of mine and practices in the same place I work...well we had some talk when he came back from Moscow and I have some insight info when it comes to their practise sessions and how certain players performed in certain aspects of the game. With my respect to all the players and to Johan I don't think it is right to discuss certain things. So I can say only about my opinion based on what I've already noticed watching certain players performance under pressure.
There are certain things helping me in understanding what difficulties the player may have. If you have enough experience in the game and remember your best times as a player...how it felt in matches on certain shots when you had a better stroke and how it feels now when you're just not as relaxed and confident when you face them under pressure. BTW I was born in 1977 too
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It will be interesting to watch how both Corey and Max perform at the International Open.
At least it does not seem this year like Marcus Chamat has much easier task with choosing 2 wild-cards than Johan has with his fifth spot (imo).