Yeah, it was a hoot last Friday night at Amsterdam Billiards in Manhattan, where owner Greg Hunt really knows how to put on a show.
It was more a friendly match than a fierce competitive match, played on a table having 5" corner pockets, but the crowd was into it. Earl interacted with the crowd frequently and was very entertaining. Fedor, a good sport for sure, was happy to let Earl be Earl and to have much of the stage to himself. Each played with joy and good sportsmanship.
Earl won the 9ball set and Fedor won the 8ball set, but the real fun came when the match was over and dozens of Amsterdam Billiard regulars got to play a rack against either Fedor or Earl. A few of them even won. When the challenge matches ended, Earl and Fedor stuck around and gave a lot of autographs to the attendees.
I had a grand old time, and as for JAM's picture shared in post #3, I told photographer extraordinaire Erwin Dinosio that I felt unworthy of being in that photo with three world champions (Hydred won a Paralympic Games gold medal in pool), but he talked me into it.
Thanks to all at Amsterdam Billiards for an unforgettable evening. I'm lucky to live just a five-minute walk away from the best poolroom in which I have ever played.