2015 World Chinese 8 Ball Masters field looks amazing
- Thread starter smashmouth
- Start date
Orcullo's willingness to fire in balls close the rails seems to be catching up to him. He's missed several balls the last few racks.
And out of all the safety shots Orcullo could have shot, he shot that one on the 9? He ended up smelling like roses after his opponent pocketed the 8 in the wrong pocket. I would have never given my opponent any decent shot on the 8 in that situation, no matter how tough the table is playing. Very odd decision, but it worked out.
Orcullo up 11-9.
And out of all the safety shots Orcullo could have shot, he shot that one on the 9? He ended up smelling like roses after his opponent pocketed the 8 in the wrong pocket. I would have never given my opponent any decent shot on the 8 in that situation, no matter how tough the table is playing. Very odd decision, but it worked out.
Orcullo up 11-9.
You have to factor in that Dennis had no real chance to leave anything but a difficult 8 ball. He made the right choice here and was rewarded for it. On this equipment, the shot he left off the safety was about 20% as I reckon it.
I assume it's true that he could have only left himself a difficult 8 ball there, but I didn't know that before he played safe on the 9 because the 9 was right near the pocket and he had an angle. On a 'regular' pool table you can get shape there either by following two cushions or by drawing one cushion off the 9.
I didn't notice any shot clock being used... is there one? If not, what's to stop the guy in the lead from slow playing through the last few minutes to ensure a win?
Either way, it's interesting to see these top players actually have to think through each rack and consider their options carefully, instead of going on autopilot and clearing up every open rack.
Either way, it's interesting to see these top players actually have to think through each rack and consider their options carefully, instead of going on autopilot and clearing up every open rack.
Last edited:
Yes, there is a shot clock. The ref warned the players at 10 seconds each time, then starting counting down. Looks like they get one extension per rack.
In this round, at least, it is a race to 13 but with an overall match clock. If time runs out, the player ahead wins.
I just watched the last 9 games of the Strickland/Hendry match. Earl won 13-10, but it was pretty ugly on both sides. The low point was Game 17 -- 5 misses and a scratch by Hendry, 4 misses by Strickland, and some poor safeties as well. Earl did make some nice outs and 1 B&R during those games.
But this match really made me appreciate the difficulty of the table, particularly shooting down the rails. The games I watched last night in the Potts/Wang match were nowhere near so error-filled.
But this match really made me appreciate the difficulty of the table, particularly shooting down the rails. The games I watched last night in the Potts/Wang match were nowhere near so error-filled.
Last edited:
pretty much what I saw
Earl got out to a four-zero lead. I didn't see the first game, the second was ugly from both sides. Third and fourth were without huge mistakes but some balls should have fell that didn't. I think Earl ran one from Stephen's break if I remember rightly.
Stephen picked things up a bit and brought it to even at seven. Eight-eight, then Earl caught a little gear and ran it up to twelve-eight. Then Earl forgot how he got to twelve and tried to manhandle the table in a hurry to close things out. Shot hard the balls have to go clean or at least stay off of the rail. Trying to overpower the table both games is how Stephen got to ten. Earl went back to a smoother style and didn't try extreme speed or juice to get the win.
Earl stayed calm and while I couldn't hear what was said he and Stephen were talking back and forth. I think Earl did a bit of unofficial commentary between games but most of the match both men seemed to be enjoying themselves until Earl got to the hill. After it was twelve-eight Stephen looked like he was accepting defeat. Earl opening doors the next couple of games fired Stephen up and he was a real danger to run five games and out.
My opinion without benefit of replay, over half of the misses would have been misses on a pretty snug pocketed Diamond, this was by both players. Early on Stephen missed a lot of shots that a snooker player should never have missed and as already mentioned, he and Earl were both missing shots pretty badly.
I only rated the table moderately tough. The rails seemed fairly dead compared to a Diamond and the pockets didn't have an extremely deep shelf. Much of Earl's troubles came when he got overconfident and tried to treat the table like it was a nine foot American pool table.
Overall I liked Chinese eight ball. There was a reasonable amount of strategy and enough innings in most games that both players had their chances. There were also a fair number of six-eight balls and out. One thing that went against Earl is both were smashing the break and Stephen had balls falling, three or four on multiple breaks. I'm not sure but I think Stephen might have had a soft break foul early on. The video quality was excellent but I believe partially on their end, partially on mine, I was getting a lot of brief freezes.
A little more about the tables, no diamonds! Hendry was a kicking fool for the most part though. Didn't make a lot of balls but usually made good contact and a rail after contact. After watching play when they were comfortable and free wheeling a bit I would like to see the game come to America and wouldn't mind a bit if they snugged up the pockets another 3/16" or 1/4"
Earl is wearing a huge bandaid on his grip hand and the way he is wearing it he doesn't seem to be using it as equipment. More like it is protecting a ding or blisters. Might have smashed his hand into the table on a break.
My first report in ages and as good as it gets at four AM my time!
Hu
Earl got out to a four-zero lead. I didn't see the first game, the second was ugly from both sides. Third and fourth were without huge mistakes but some balls should have fell that didn't. I think Earl ran one from Stephen's break if I remember rightly.
Stephen picked things up a bit and brought it to even at seven. Eight-eight, then Earl caught a little gear and ran it up to twelve-eight. Then Earl forgot how he got to twelve and tried to manhandle the table in a hurry to close things out. Shot hard the balls have to go clean or at least stay off of the rail. Trying to overpower the table both games is how Stephen got to ten. Earl went back to a smoother style and didn't try extreme speed or juice to get the win.
Earl stayed calm and while I couldn't hear what was said he and Stephen were talking back and forth. I think Earl did a bit of unofficial commentary between games but most of the match both men seemed to be enjoying themselves until Earl got to the hill. After it was twelve-eight Stephen looked like he was accepting defeat. Earl opening doors the next couple of games fired Stephen up and he was a real danger to run five games and out.
My opinion without benefit of replay, over half of the misses would have been misses on a pretty snug pocketed Diamond, this was by both players. Early on Stephen missed a lot of shots that a snooker player should never have missed and as already mentioned, he and Earl were both missing shots pretty badly.
I only rated the table moderately tough. The rails seemed fairly dead compared to a Diamond and the pockets didn't have an extremely deep shelf. Much of Earl's troubles came when he got overconfident and tried to treat the table like it was a nine foot American pool table.
Overall I liked Chinese eight ball. There was a reasonable amount of strategy and enough innings in most games that both players had their chances. There were also a fair number of six-eight balls and out. One thing that went against Earl is both were smashing the break and Stephen had balls falling, three or four on multiple breaks. I'm not sure but I think Stephen might have had a soft break foul early on. The video quality was excellent but I believe partially on their end, partially on mine, I was getting a lot of brief freezes.
A little more about the tables, no diamonds! Hendry was a kicking fool for the most part though. Didn't make a lot of balls but usually made good contact and a rail after contact. After watching play when they were comfortable and free wheeling a bit I would like to see the game come to America and wouldn't mind a bit if they snugged up the pockets another 3/16" or 1/4"
Earl is wearing a huge bandaid on his grip hand and the way he is wearing it he doesn't seem to be using it as equipment. More like it is protecting a ding or blisters. Might have smashed his hand into the table on a break.
My first report in ages and as good as it gets at four AM my time!
Hu
Last edited:
Stephen has no excuses for the misses at all, he have been playing on these tables for more than 2 years, few dozens of matches, in all of which he had less than 1/5 of misses and far better cue ball control. I think this match is an example of recklessness on both side.
Last edited: