After 4 days attending the WPBA tournament in Peoria, it's back to reality (this day job is still getting in the way of my pool addiction).
There was some great pool played this year (like every year). Xiao-Ting Pan definitely served notice that she may become a force. Her match with Helena was just AWESOME. Helena played perfectly until the end, but couldn't shake a determined and composed Pan.
Sarah Rousey had a good tournament; a tremendous comeback win (despite the alternate break format), a dismantling of Tiffany Nelson to get to the single-elimination round of 16 (nothing like a new format every year), and a very respectable showing against Allison in that round (tough draw for Sarah).
Sarah's father introduced himself, and I had the opportunity to meet that very pleasant gentleman, and to compliment him on an obviously superior parenting job.
The Saturday night round-of-8 matches had 2 of the best matches ever. Pan/Fisher and Lee/Corr. Pan started out about 5-1 ahead (never missing a ball), Allison then played perfectly and won about 4 in a row. Pan was not bothered at all, ran an extremely difficult rack, and succeeded in closing out the match. All of the AZB'ers present predicted DCP would take credit for the loss.
The Lee/Corr match was tremendous (at least up until 7-6 Corr). Jeanette had no close matches up til this point, just dominating whoever she drew. In this match she played great, consistently beating Karen to the shot, winning almost every safety and kicking battle (difficult to do against the player most consider the best defensive player on tour). Karen was fortunate to get some easy racks (2-9 combo, 2-9 carom, and a couple of 3-ball runs for victories).
At 7-6 Corr, Karen had to kick at a one ball near a corner pocket, close to the long rail. She went 2 rails into the 1, but neither the 1-ball nor the cue ball touched a rail afterwards. It was quite clearly a foul. When JL went to the table, she reached towards the cue ball and asked if it was a good hit. Karen said yes, it was a good hit (I'm a totally biased JL fan, but man, it was impossible given the direction and final resting place of the balls). I guess JL was not watching very closely or would have argued (I sure would have). Anyway, JL had no shot, Karen wins the rack to go on the hill. JL won 2 more racks to make it hill-hill, but Karen broke and ran the last rack to win. I don't know if Karen really thought she made a legal kick, but if I ever saw something like that in a league game, I would think a lot less of that player afterwards. Anyone else see this??? One less Karen Corr fan here (maybe I shouldn't mention her extreme slow play and rack arguing after falling behind Kim Shaw 8-6) - this brings the number of WPBA players that I will actively root against up to one.
Had a great meal with WallyinCincy (and his parole officer). I missed the usual attendee's ChefJeff, DCP, vagabond, and zeeder - I hope they make it next year. I enjoyed meeting rukiddingme (good player) and longhair. Had some great discussions with Nostroke, DaBabe, sjm (as well as another 14.1 thrashing from him in Peoria), and Allie. I even got to sweat a match with Jeff Beckley (sandianakid), fresh in from an IPT appearance in Vegas.
All in all a great experience - I can't wait for next year.
There was some great pool played this year (like every year). Xiao-Ting Pan definitely served notice that she may become a force. Her match with Helena was just AWESOME. Helena played perfectly until the end, but couldn't shake a determined and composed Pan.
Sarah Rousey had a good tournament; a tremendous comeback win (despite the alternate break format), a dismantling of Tiffany Nelson to get to the single-elimination round of 16 (nothing like a new format every year), and a very respectable showing against Allison in that round (tough draw for Sarah).
Sarah's father introduced himself, and I had the opportunity to meet that very pleasant gentleman, and to compliment him on an obviously superior parenting job.
The Saturday night round-of-8 matches had 2 of the best matches ever. Pan/Fisher and Lee/Corr. Pan started out about 5-1 ahead (never missing a ball), Allison then played perfectly and won about 4 in a row. Pan was not bothered at all, ran an extremely difficult rack, and succeeded in closing out the match. All of the AZB'ers present predicted DCP would take credit for the loss.
The Lee/Corr match was tremendous (at least up until 7-6 Corr). Jeanette had no close matches up til this point, just dominating whoever she drew. In this match she played great, consistently beating Karen to the shot, winning almost every safety and kicking battle (difficult to do against the player most consider the best defensive player on tour). Karen was fortunate to get some easy racks (2-9 combo, 2-9 carom, and a couple of 3-ball runs for victories).
At 7-6 Corr, Karen had to kick at a one ball near a corner pocket, close to the long rail. She went 2 rails into the 1, but neither the 1-ball nor the cue ball touched a rail afterwards. It was quite clearly a foul. When JL went to the table, she reached towards the cue ball and asked if it was a good hit. Karen said yes, it was a good hit (I'm a totally biased JL fan, but man, it was impossible given the direction and final resting place of the balls). I guess JL was not watching very closely or would have argued (I sure would have). Anyway, JL had no shot, Karen wins the rack to go on the hill. JL won 2 more racks to make it hill-hill, but Karen broke and ran the last rack to win. I don't know if Karen really thought she made a legal kick, but if I ever saw something like that in a league game, I would think a lot less of that player afterwards. Anyone else see this??? One less Karen Corr fan here (maybe I shouldn't mention her extreme slow play and rack arguing after falling behind Kim Shaw 8-6) - this brings the number of WPBA players that I will actively root against up to one.
Had a great meal with WallyinCincy (and his parole officer). I missed the usual attendee's ChefJeff, DCP, vagabond, and zeeder - I hope they make it next year. I enjoyed meeting rukiddingme (good player) and longhair. Had some great discussions with Nostroke, DaBabe, sjm (as well as another 14.1 thrashing from him in Peoria), and Allie. I even got to sweat a match with Jeff Beckley (sandianakid), fresh in from an IPT appearance in Vegas.
All in all a great experience - I can't wait for next year.
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She's getting to be one tough cookie, it seems. SJM, what really happened to Jeanette on that leave?...AZers want to know!
