14.1 american

You know who drew tough in stage 2? Everybody! What a star-studded competition this has become. A race to 150 on tight diamond tables is no sprint. With the rarest of exceptions, every player will get his chance to prevail when the heat is turned up highest.

Those remaining bring us a nice mix of firepower (such as Filler, Zielinski, Kaci. Sanchez-Ruiz and Shaw) and technical precision (such as Corteza, Appleton, Eberle, Souquet and Pagulayan), not to mention those with a nice blend of both.

This is one tough event to try to handicap. I think Lee Van Corteza may be a little under the radar here, but I think he's one to watch.
 
wasn't a good look. aside from the stupid shot on the two ball he also started packing his cues at ~117 points.

He did the same thing tonight as Souquet was running out.

Good call about Lee Stu. He's playing some unbelievable straight pool.
 
yea, lee van is probably the best asian straight pool player. he's not just a rotation player shooting straight pool. he won the dragon event years ago and i think he's won this too
 
yea, lee van is probably the best asian straight pool player. he's not just a rotation player shooting straight pool. he won the dragon event years ago and i think he's won this too
Corteza hasn't won the Am. 14.1 event yet. In 2017 he won both the World 14.1 Tournament (Dragon event) and the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship, defeating Hohmann in the finals of both events.
 
What a small-minded, provincial view of the sports world — I doubt anyone who enjoys the World Series, the NBA finals, or golf’s four majors has a problem with the Home Run Derby, the Slam Dunk Contest, or the World Long Drive Contest.

Nor would they try and to put it on the promoters of those events that they were, somehow, attempting to substitute these narrowly defined competitive events for the bedrock events where champions of these sports emerge and are crowned.

Certainly, no one at our event is claiming that a high run event will prove who was “the best of the best.” Mosconi proved he was the best of the best with his world titles and the testimony of those who saw him play. And so it shall be for the rest of pool.

That’s what's legit.

Lou Figueroa
Lou I know many, many lifelong baseball fans like me who never watch the home run derby and could care less about it. I am not saying that there is not an audience for any of the side car sports events - there is an audience for anything in this world. As far as the 14.1 challenge, all I am saying is that it is time to up the game to real time table conditions - I know that many people agree with me - tired of seeing someone run around the table without any thought of having to actually pocket the balls. The American 14.1 is showing us, again, how beautiful and challenging the game actually is.
 
Corteza hasn't won the Am. 14.1 event yet. In 2017 he won both the World 14.1 Tournament (Dragon event) and the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship, defeating Hohmann in the finals of both events.
I also recall Corteza taking down the high run prize one year at Derby City with a 225. He plays extremely knowledgeable straight pool.
 
yea, lee van is probably the best asian straight pool player. he's not just a rotation player shooting straight pool. he won the dragon event years ago and i think he's won this too
It's not easy to choose between Pagulayan, Orcullo and Corteza, but they all play beautiful straight pool.
 
Lou I know many, many lifelong baseball fans like me who never watch the home run derby and could care less about it. I am not saying that there is not an audience for any of the side car sports events - there is an audience for anything in this world. As far as the 14.1 challenge, all I am saying is that it is time to up the game to real time table conditions - I know that many people agree with me - tired of seeing someone run around the table without any thought of having to actually pocket the balls. The American 14.1 is showing us, again, how beautiful and challenging the game actually is.

What you are suggesting already happen for many, many years at the DCC Straight Pool Challenge, starting at the Executive West and continuing at the casino in southern IN.

I watched it every year and even played in it a couple of times. I believe Joshua put up a 285 in one of it’s final incarnations. And there was rarely more than a dozen or so people watching despite there being hundreds of pool players and fans in the building.

So you’re tired of our event — don’t watch. But there's no need to bash it and try to come off as some sort of 14.1 purist. We have repeatedly said our equipment is set up the way it is so it's similar to what Willie used to set bar. If you find our event “totally boring and utterly pointless” and “meaningless” and you are unaware of the DCC events (as it seems you are) then you don’t understand pool history despite your moniker.

We happen to know there is huge audience interest for our event and will press on, next, with a women’s high run attempt event. The sale of signed balls, jerseys, and DVDs isn’t the point — that’s just to give players a chance to generate a little more dough.

There is nothing stopping you and your “true pool aficionados” from setting up a table the way you want, though we already know (spoiler alert) the ceiling for the top pros given such conditions is around 300. Lots of 14.1 fans are enjoying our event -- sorry to see you go.

Lou Figueroa
 
What you are suggesting already happen for many, many years at the DCC Straight Pool Challenge, starting at the Executive West and continuing at the casino in southern IN.

I watched it every year and even played in it a couple of times. I believe Joshua put up a 285 in one of it’s final incarnations. And there was rarely more than a dozen or so people watching despite there being hundreds of pool players and fans in the building.

So you’re tired of our event — don’t watch. But there's no need to bash it and try to come off as some sort of 14.1 purist. We have repeatedly said our equipment is set up the way it is so it's similar to what Willie used to set bar. If you find our event “totally boring and utterly pointless” and “meaningless” and you are unaware of the DCC events (as it seems you are) then you don’t understand pool history despite your moniker.

We happen to know there is huge audience interest for our event and will press on, next, with a women’s high run attempt event. The sale of signed balls, jerseys, and DVDs isn’t the point — that’s just to give players a chance to generate a little more dough.

There is nothing stopping you and your “true pool aficionados” from setting up a table the way you want, though we already know (spoiler alert) the ceiling for the top pros given such conditions is around 300. Lots of 14.1 fans are enjoying our event -- sorry to see you go.

Lou Figueroa
I'm just one guy expressing his own opinion. You are so defensive Lou, why? I am not trying to come off as anything- it is just the way I feel about it- if that makes me come off as purist regarding 14.1 then so be it. I am personally glad that you have a huge audience for your Hi- run attempts- just no longer my thing; does not make my stance or yours right or wrong and certainly should not be received or dished out as personal affronts.

Sorry if I came off as bashing your event, for all of those who enjoy it - hats off to them! I have no personal agenda against anyone who runs or participates in such an event. I think that I do have a right to express how I feel about it, and others can agree or disagree. In the end, all of us who really enjoy 14.1 should share the same stage of promotion; but we each do have the right to express out thoughts on how the game is being promoted.

I think that the American 14.1 that is now in session is the right way to go. I would enjoy seeing more events like this here on American soil. I applaud the opportunity to get more money in the hands of our 14.1 pros; and yes, I do personally believe that watching pros trying to beat a 300 ball run on 4 1/2s would be more meaningful in 2022 than 700 or more on large pockets- again - just my own feelings on this.
 
Besides, Shaw disgraced the entire event by just giving up on the table as he did- 14.1 has always been regarded as the game with the most class in all of pool - now we see someone do this- sad.
Mike: As a great fan of Jason's courage and unrelenting determination during his high-run attempts I have to reluctantly agree 1,000 percent with what you've stated. Ernest Hemingway once defined courage as "Grace under pressure." Didn't see any of that in this aberrational instance.

Anti-heroic is the kindest way I can express my disappointment.

But I must add that -- as I've sometimes posted in the interests of fairness to an individual -- no normal person is as bad as the worst thing they've ever done.

Arnaldo
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
But I must add that -- as I've sometimes posted in the interests of fairness to an individual -- no normal person is as bad as the worst thing they've ever done.

Arnaldo
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
You're a good person, Arnaldo.

Kudos.
 
I'm just one guy expressing his own opinion. You are so defensive Lou, why? I am not trying to come off as anything- it is just the way I feel about it- if that makes me come off as purist regarding 14.1 then so be it. I am personally glad that you have a huge audience for your Hi- run attempts- just no longer my thing; does not make my stance or yours right or wrong and certainly should not be received or dished out as personal affronts.

Sorry if I came off as bashing your event, for all of those who enjoy it - hats off to them! I have no personal agenda against anyone who runs or participates in such an event. I think that I do have a right to express how I feel about it, and others can agree or disagree. In the end, all of us who really enjoy 14.1 should share the same stage of promotion; but we each do have the right to express out thoughts on how the game is being promoted.

I think that the American 14.1 that is now in session is the right way to go. I would enjoy seeing more events like this here on American soil. I applaud the opportunity to get more money in the hands of our 14.1 pros; and yes, I do personally believe that watching pros trying to beat a 300 ball run on 4 1/2s would be more meaningful in 2022 than 700 or more on large pockets- again - just my own feelings on this.

"Not trying to come off as anything" -- really?

Your words about our event have been that it's: "totally boring and utterly pointless." It's "meaningless." We're using "marketing gimmicks." It's "taken on a circus atmosphere." The funny part is that you then try and cast yourself and others as the "true pool aficionados" asking for something that any "true pool aficionado" would know has already been done *for years* in the form of the DCC Straight Pool Challenge, lol.

Lou Figueroa
 
1 out of 4 did

could you name a few of those modern top pros and what they may or may have not run though?
out side of john schmidt and the 4 recent pros

other pros have now changed their minds that 700 is too much even with incentives , ask bobby
Correct.
 
There is supposed to be a difference between professionals and amateurs. How one manages adversity and emotion is one defining factor between those two classes in sports- supposed to be- anyhow.
Ever seen football?


Or pro pool players screaming out loud and jumping on pool tables?
 
Ever seen football?


Or pro pool players screaming out loud and jumping on pool tables?
Great analogy- football and pool? AND- EXPRESSING EMOTION upon the termination of a sporting event- ( like jumping on a pool table) is entirely different than giving up in the middle of the most competitive event within the historically most prestigious game ( 14.1) within the game/ sport of pocket billiards.

Pros traveled from all over the world to compete in this event, every pro there should be giving 100% to the competitive spirit of this event- like someone said- we should never judge a person by their worst moments - but there should be expectations when you bring together professionals, and we as the audience have a right to comment when the expectations are soiled by this sort of behavior.

WTF are you saying anyhow?- that I and others here have no right to comment on this sort of behavior in a pro event, or are you saying that we are entirely wrong in being disappointed that guys just give up in the middle of a match and shoot wildly at the balls in frustration.

Pool and Football? I just can't get my head around how you think.
 
Great analogy- football and pool? AND- EXPRESSING EMOTION upon the termination of a sporting event- ( like jumping on a pool table) is entirely different than giving up in the middle of the most competitive event within the historically most prestigious game ( 14.1) within the game/ sport of pocket billiards.

Pros traveled from all over the world to compete in this event, every pro there should be giving 100% to the competitive spirit of this event- like someone said- we should never judge a person by their worst moments - but there should be expectations when you bring together professionals, and we as the audience have a right to comment when the expectations are soiled by this sort of behavior.

WTF are you saying anyhow?- that I and others here have no right to comment on this sort of behavior in a pro event, or are you saying that we are entirely wrong in being disappointed that guys just give up in the middle of a match and shoot wildly at the balls in frustration.

Pool and Football? I just can't get my head around how you think.
You brought up the difference in professionals and amateurs,
It's a simple concept

But I guess you haven't seen football or guys jump on pool tables, stomping rails, or even laying on tables while shooting because that reply had more deflection than a 10 mm shaft
 
"Not trying to come off as anything" -- really?

Your words about our event have been that it's: "totally boring and utterly pointless." It's "meaningless." We're using "marketing gimmicks." It's "taken on a circus atmosphere." The funny part is that you then try and cast yourself and others as the "true pool aficionados" asking for something that any "true pool aficionado" would know has already been done *for years* in the form of the DCC Straight Pool Challenge, lol.

Lou Figueroa
I apologize for my choice of words- they were not correct. If 300 is the Hi- run number on 4 1/2 inch pockets; then for next year's American 14.1, I will offer a $2,000 bonus if any player reaches that 300 number during the high run challenge in the format that is being used this year at the event i.e. - player must run 100 balls or more to close out their match and then can continue the run after the match- 300 total run gets an additional $2,000 from me personally.

I feel strongly about upping the standards and willing to contribute to the cause.
 
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