Former Straight Pool champions react to news of John Schmidt's 626.
Have to love the sincere amazement, respect, and informed appreciation these world-class Straight Pool champions express about John’s record-breaking feat. The unreserved praise, analyses, and pure enthusiasm of his well-credentialed contemporaries are quite admirable and impressive.
Arnaldo
Full Billiards Digest article here:
https://tinyurl.com/y44u655f
Excerpted comments below:
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Champs Weigh In
Former straight pool champions react to news of John Schmidt's 626
Mike Sigel
World 14.1 Champion 1979, '81, '85
It's the most amazing feat I've ever heard. My high run was 339. Look at all the other runs he had in the 300s and 400s. How hard is what he did? He's the only one that's ever done it. You have to have the ability and you have to get a shot after 44 consecutive break shots. It's hard to believe. To concentrate that long and get the opportunity in 44 racks is amazing. As for criticism, I don't think this should be questioned at all. Give him the credit. The reality is that nobody else has even come close to that. Even if straight pool was the game today and all the top players were playing it all the time, I still don't think this number would be beat. That's how incredible it is.
Thorsten Hohmann
World 14.1 Champion 2006
World Tournament of 14.1
Champion 2011, '13, '15, '18
For starters, I have to give John credit for such a pubic attempt, putting the pressure on himself by putting his attempts on social media. It was a mission. And for him to put up so many high runs over that time is pretty amazing. And to get to 626 is incredible. I don't have an opinion on people's discussion of its merit. Him doing it is amazing. I don't care about who recognizes it.
Nick Varner
World 14.1 Champion 1980, '86
I don't think anybody has tried that hard before. This was John's goal and he accomplished it. My high run is 337. It's a remarkable feat to break Mosconi's record after all these years, and to break it on a 9-foot table is even better. I think this run should be accepted for what it is. It's not a game situation in either case. What's even more amazing to me is that he ran 100 more balls after he broke the record. Concentration is such a big part of running balls in straight pool and it would have been hard for me not to stop and celebrate after hitting 527.
Darren Appleton
World Tournament of 14.1 Champion 2014
To me, it's one of the greatest feats of all time in our sport. It's an incredible achievement. I didn't think he'd make it after breaking down on 400 a few times. The pressure once he got to 450 would be too much for anyone. But it was a lifelong ambition for him and his determination was amazing. He deserved it more than any other players. Negativity on social media has been disappointing, but John has the respect for this achievement from his fellow professionals because we all know what a mammoth effort it was and how difficult this really is.
Have to love the sincere amazement, respect, and informed appreciation these world-class Straight Pool champions express about John’s record-breaking feat. The unreserved praise, analyses, and pure enthusiasm of his well-credentialed contemporaries are quite admirable and impressive.
Arnaldo
Full Billiards Digest article here:
https://tinyurl.com/y44u655f
Excerpted comments below:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Champs Weigh In
Former straight pool champions react to news of John Schmidt's 626
Mike Sigel
World 14.1 Champion 1979, '81, '85
It's the most amazing feat I've ever heard. My high run was 339. Look at all the other runs he had in the 300s and 400s. How hard is what he did? He's the only one that's ever done it. You have to have the ability and you have to get a shot after 44 consecutive break shots. It's hard to believe. To concentrate that long and get the opportunity in 44 racks is amazing. As for criticism, I don't think this should be questioned at all. Give him the credit. The reality is that nobody else has even come close to that. Even if straight pool was the game today and all the top players were playing it all the time, I still don't think this number would be beat. That's how incredible it is.
Thorsten Hohmann
World 14.1 Champion 2006
World Tournament of 14.1
Champion 2011, '13, '15, '18
For starters, I have to give John credit for such a pubic attempt, putting the pressure on himself by putting his attempts on social media. It was a mission. And for him to put up so many high runs over that time is pretty amazing. And to get to 626 is incredible. I don't have an opinion on people's discussion of its merit. Him doing it is amazing. I don't care about who recognizes it.
Nick Varner
World 14.1 Champion 1980, '86
I don't think anybody has tried that hard before. This was John's goal and he accomplished it. My high run is 337. It's a remarkable feat to break Mosconi's record after all these years, and to break it on a 9-foot table is even better. I think this run should be accepted for what it is. It's not a game situation in either case. What's even more amazing to me is that he ran 100 more balls after he broke the record. Concentration is such a big part of running balls in straight pool and it would have been hard for me not to stop and celebrate after hitting 527.
Darren Appleton
World Tournament of 14.1 Champion 2014
To me, it's one of the greatest feats of all time in our sport. It's an incredible achievement. I didn't think he'd make it after breaking down on 400 a few times. The pressure once he got to 450 would be too much for anyone. But it was a lifelong ambition for him and his determination was amazing. He deserved it more than any other players. Negativity on social media has been disappointing, but John has the respect for this achievement from his fellow professionals because we all know what a mammoth effort it was and how difficult this really is.