Didn’t Mika throw an opponent’s chalk under the table?
Yeah, it was one a hilarious clip.
It doesn’t bother me unless they leave multiple chalks on the rails. If chalk is in my sight picture, I move the chalk
before shooting. With multiple chalks, it happens too frequently and becomes bothersome. At that point, if it were
to continue, I’ll remove the chalk off the rail every time it’s my inning at the table. I simply place the chalk on the floor
under the table. My opponent can retrieve it up when it’s his inning. When that becomes bothersome to him, he can
either stop leaving his chalks on the rails or be prepared to do a lot of bending over while we continue playing pool.
However, a single, solitary piece of chalk left on the table rails “face up” is okay and isn’t a nuisance or distraction.
Chalk doesn't really bother me, except this one time:
I played against a very good opponent in a local tournament. He's really respected and even does instruction. In the area he's one of the best and a very capable player. He had 6 pieces of chalk all over the table.
I watched him determine tangent lines then sit a piece down on the line, but he acted stealthily (I thought) like it was just sat in a random place. He would do this for where he wanted balls to hit a second rail etc, you know planning routes. Most people wouldn't pick up on it as he has the act down really well, picking up chalk, chalking, thinking... it's not obvious.
I would literally have to move a piece of chalk every time I bridged to shoot, or the second shot in a run etc. After about 4 trips to the table I got sick of having to move chalk a dozen times. I sat all of them but two on his side table with him watching me. A game later in the set there were 6 chalks again. I set them back on his table except one. Next turn there are 3 chalks there. I got his attention and sat them on the light.
It's now his turn to shoot. He comes to the table, looks perturbed, walks over to my chair acting really confrontational. Asking "Where is my chalk?" two or three times as he's walking over. I looked at him and said "You saw me get your attention and then I sat them on the light. I've moved a half dozen cubes every turn at the table. I even sat them on your table earlier."
I can see his chest just puff up and he started in on me a bit, I'm thinking he's attempting mainly head games, you know, the "off the table" head games trying to intimidate. I put my hand up and got his attention. I said quietly, with the intention of not calling him out in front of everyone watching, "You know
NAME REDACTED, a player with your skill level shouldn't have to aim and mark tangents and CB routes on the table with chalk. I don't mind if you want a couple pieces of chalk on the table but I'm done moving chalk constantly every time I make a bridge."
He didn't say a word, calmed right down and kept only a piece or two on the table. It's illegal pretty much anywhere to aim with chalk and he picked up the unsaid portion of the exchange.
That was the first time I played him or interacted with him much. I thought he was a prick. The next two times we saw each other not a word was spoken. Then later we talked some and he's actually a really good dude. The funny thing is, directly after that tournament he started using magnetic chalk! I don't think he even realized he was doing it!
