APA Regional Qualifier....Fast Eddies Here I Come!

DelaWho???

DelaWho???

Banger McCue
Silver Member
This is my second session playing in the APA. Last session I didn't have enough plays to qualify to enter a tourny....

There was a regional qualifier (8 ball) yesterday, double elimination with a field of 8. Two tickets to the regional in Alexandria VA were at stake.

I thought what the hell and entered. I figured it'd be good experience and would help me with the competition jitters... I learned a couple things yesterday as I took the winners bracket, defeating a 4, a 7 and a 5 for the tourny win.

I was the only 3 there with a 4, a 5, two 6 and three 7's rounding out the field. I was pretty sure I was going to get decimated here, but I was shooting well during the warm up, and I didn't know anyone there (big advantage in the nerves dept.).
I got lucky in the draw and pulled the 4. I was lucky to get through this round on the winners side. I beat her 2 - 1, but she scratched on the 8 in both games I won. She didn't take the loss well, and didn't shake hands after. I felt a little bad at first winning on a couple of scratches, but after reflection I realized that I put her hard on the 8 twice, forcing the scrath both times. It wasn't as if she ran out her balls and blew the 8. Both shots were from where I left her. Lucky yes, but she could have chosen a different shot.

My next draw was a 7, the guy I thought was going to win everything. Probably the best player I'd seen in my short time out there in the league world. I won the lag. I broke and the CB sailed across the room. Next thing I know I'm down 4-0 in a race to six (his 6 to my 2). I won game 5, kicking off of the head rail, from the foot rail to drop the 8 in the corner. I break game 6 drop a ball on the break and miss. He runs out the table. Game 7 was a back and forth affair, which I won to take the match.

Finally, my last match was the 5. It was a 2-4 race and he jumped out 2-0 before I was able to win game 3, and game 5 for the win. I made a nice carom shot off of my 2 jammed problem balls to sink a duck in the corner. The breakout was perfect, leaving me one shot in the corner with easy shape on the other. When I sank the second one I got some nice CB action on the 8 that lined up an easy corner pocket shot. The 5 just dropped the ball in the corner pocket and conceded the match. I was relieved to say the least. The CB was at the other end of the table straight on to the 8. I was a bit worried I'd follow it in, but he picked the 8 up and dropped it in the pocket sparing me the potential embarassment of a scratch and a hill hill game.

While I have no illusions that I could beat these guys in a straight up match, (except the 4) especially the 7, I still feel great about the win.

My first qualifier and I'm in WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!! It was the best Saturday in a long time.....I don't even remember the 55 mile drive home.....:cool:

Thanks for letting me share

McCue Banger McCue
 
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You know too much to be a 3. LOL

The win entitles you to now go play against 16 other winners who are 3's. Unfortunately, by then you will be a 4.

Good luck,

Jake
 
Congratulations on the win, you may stay a four I don't remember when the regionals are. Practice, Play and have Fun. Don't get to wound up stay in the moment and have fun.

Black Cat :cool:
 
Regionals are in October

The regional at Fast Eddies is supposed to be in October. I don't care what they make my SL by then. I'm in and I have a shot.

As for knowing to much to0 be a 3, knowing and doing are two different things.....Inconsistency is a B*tch....and I will conquer it. If that means I'm a 4 or a 5 or whatever, fine by me. I just want to play.

I did learn something valuable in the tournament though..... It turns out that most of my nerve revolve around not letting the team down.....At the tourny it was only me, and while I did get that excited rush that competing seems to bring on it wasn't as intense. It turns out I'm more worried about not letting the team down, or not doing badly in front of the team. When I was by myself, while there was some pressure, I didn't feel like I had to carry the load of 4 other guys. We'll see tomorrow how the weekend effects my league play.

Still a 3 for know..... a tough 3.......

McCue Banger McCue
 
A little friendly advice. You can lose in the first round (and maybe even the second round-can't remember for sure) with absolutely no penalty, so don't stress the first round. Losing in the first or second round of the APA's modified-single-elimination tourney is probably the better way to win the qualifier. Just let the winners knock each other off in round two or three, and then play your game. This whole APA tourney system will really piss you off if you win all your matches on Saturday and then return for Sunday's final matches only to lose to someone you already beat the day before. If this happens, Guess what? You are out and he moves on, even though you beat him earlier. I can't understand that system, and I don't know why the APA can't afford to run a true double elimination regional tourney. Oh well, guess we should just feel lucky that we got to play for our $15 to $30 lottery ticket at the first qualifier. Gee wizz, a chance to win a ticket to Vegas, wait in registration lines for hours, and get 1/2 the rate for a room, all for spending an entire weekend sitting in a bar a hundred and fifty miles from your home and waiting to play a handicapped match on a bar table. Sorry, do I sound negative? My friend, you would be better off spending your time working Saturday and Sunday and paying your own way to Vegas. The odds of cutting through this maze of profiteering tournaments are very very slim. I cannot recommend what the APA is doing to amateur pool. Sorry APA, but the truth hurts.
 
The only thing i hate, which not sure if everyone does this.

But in my area, if we dont get 16players its all single elimination and its a splash board effect, where a SL7 may play a SL2 in thier first match. and the cost is 15$

But if we do get 16 or more players its all done by SL rank, so the first match is never against someone more than 1 SL up or down from you. but the cost is 30$

But this generally is a benefactor since if you lose after a couple rounds you end up playing lower #'s

Which is what happend to me in my first Qualifier,, is i went in as a NEW SL6 and had to play a SL7 and won hill hill, then went to play a SL6 and got smoked 4-1.

Then went to the 1loss side and played a SL7 and won 4-2, but then in the final match to see who goes to regionals, i lose to a SL4 3-2.

but oh well next fall i will do as many qualifiers as possible to make it to regionals.

dave
 
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