Interesting change. I see that they adopted much of the wording of the WPA World Standardized Rules (WSR).
Bob Jewett
Chief Editor, 2008 WSR Revision
2018 CBSA Chinese 8 Ball (26-30March)- Yushan,China (Winner $90K)
- Thread starter spartan
- Start date
Bob Jewett
Chief Editor, 2008 WSR Revision
ICEA is the WPA's Chinese 8ball division.
that was one mother of a game changing slop shot, you couldn't make that shot intentionally on 100 attempts
For those who have not seen it yet, here is the sequence starting from a safe by Melling: https://youtu.be/vkWNuYMQWac?t=1h51m39s
The angle off the ball (six) in the middle of the table to make the banked ball is natural, so that part is not incredible, but he sure got lucky to free his trapped ball. He did apologize for the shot.
It used to be call shot. They changed the rules this year and actually said that they were doing it to “up the luck factor”. There have been a few sick slop shops in this tournament, at least one of them on the black. Thems the rules and thems the rolls. Hats of to Zheng Yubo but a pretty lousy ending to a great match. Should never be a talking point and it should be call shot.
Here are my observations - The event was very professionally run, with the players well dressed and the setting first class. There was a large crowd there for the finals which indicates the popularity of the game in China. Zheng is a great player! He came back from a large deficit and played well doing so. In the last two racks there were several opportunities for him to show weakness and he never wavered, executing shot after shot perfectly. One roll didn't win that match! Zheng won that match showing heart and courage. Chris played great and showed he could hold his own against the best China had to offer, a credit to him.
The bottom line is that there is some serious money attached to these events and any great pool player should be working on his or her Eight Ball game, maybe practicing on a 10' snooker table. There is no reason a Shane, an Alex, Darren or Dennis couldn't do well in these events with the proper preparation. If they are going to fly all over the world to play for far less, why not go to China to have a chance at some real money? Look how well a 70 year old Pat Fleming did in his first try at it.
There is no trick to this game. It's just Eight Ball after all and you need to shoot straight. What makes the Chinese players so good is their confidence number one (Zheng doesn't waste any time shooting) and their excellent speed control. I'd like to work with Dennis for a month and see what he can do. You just can't go there expecting to do good, you must practice this game on similar conditions to be properly prepared.
The bottom line is that there is some serious money attached to these events and any great pool player should be working on his or her Eight Ball game, maybe practicing on a 10' snooker table. There is no reason a Shane, an Alex, Darren or Dennis couldn't do well in these events with the proper preparation. If they are going to fly all over the world to play for far less, why not go to China to have a chance at some real money? Look how well a 70 year old Pat Fleming did in his first try at it.
There is no trick to this game. It's just Eight Ball after all and you need to shoot straight. What makes the Chinese players so good is their confidence number one (Zheng doesn't waste any time shooting) and their excellent speed control. I'd like to work with Dennis for a month and see what he can do. You just can't go there expecting to do good, you must practice this game on similar conditions to be properly prepared.
I really enjoyed watching this event.
To be honest, I liked it better than normal 8ball pool, because as an amateur player, I think you can learn more if you watch these Chinese events.
If you watch, for example, Darren's 8ball tournaments, you get the full package. Super players, excellent commentary and overall some good pool to watch. But as an amateur or hobby player you can't really learn much from it, because these pros became that good in what they do, that they can run out nearly every time.
This Chinese 8ball tables make running out very difficult, so you see two things:
First, some very simple pattern play and the importance of good fundamentals. No need for extravagant three rail position play with tons of side, just simple shots with good speed control.
And second, the importance of having a good safety game and that is where I learned a lot by watching this tournament.
On an american pool table you a pretty much dead if you miss the eight, because even a low level amateur has a good chance to run an open table. Here even the top players choose to play two, three safety shots, repositioning balls etc. before the go for the kill.
So a lot more tactics, which makes this game very exciting to watch, at least in my opinion.
What would be awesome though, if there was some good international commentary.
To be honest, I liked it better than normal 8ball pool, because as an amateur player, I think you can learn more if you watch these Chinese events.
If you watch, for example, Darren's 8ball tournaments, you get the full package. Super players, excellent commentary and overall some good pool to watch. But as an amateur or hobby player you can't really learn much from it, because these pros became that good in what they do, that they can run out nearly every time.
This Chinese 8ball tables make running out very difficult, so you see two things:
First, some very simple pattern play and the importance of good fundamentals. No need for extravagant three rail position play with tons of side, just simple shots with good speed control.
And second, the importance of having a good safety game and that is where I learned a lot by watching this tournament.
On an american pool table you a pretty much dead if you miss the eight, because even a low level amateur has a good chance to run an open table. Here even the top players choose to play two, three safety shots, repositioning balls etc. before the go for the kill.
So a lot more tactics, which makes this game very exciting to watch, at least in my opinion.
What would be awesome though, if there was some good international commentary.
the key is to learn and play uk 8 ball
the offensive pattern play is next level, its a major reason uk 8 ballers coming from 6ft tables have seen success, same goes for defence and tactics as mentioned
a chinese 9 ball tourney would level up the playing field in this aspect in favour of the pool players
outside of Shaw, Melling, and Appleton,(all uk 8 ball champs btw) I can't see too many pool guys being a threat to go deep in these things
Mark Selby's been the only snooker player to go deep, and Garreth pots has taken down a couple of these....also......uk8 ball champs
Michael hill too, uk8 ball
see a trend? I'll guess that those 6 guys have averaged more success than the chinese overall
the offensive pattern play is next level, its a major reason uk 8 ballers coming from 6ft tables have seen success, same goes for defence and tactics as mentioned
a chinese 9 ball tourney would level up the playing field in this aspect in favour of the pool players
outside of Shaw, Melling, and Appleton,(all uk 8 ball champs btw) I can't see too many pool guys being a threat to go deep in these things
Mark Selby's been the only snooker player to go deep, and Garreth pots has taken down a couple of these....also......uk8 ball champs
Michael hill too, uk8 ball
see a trend? I'll guess that those 6 guys have averaged more success than the chinese overall