Conflict Over Concession of Game

C

ChrisinNC

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
This happened in our weekly tournament the other night. In the hill-hill game, the 9 ball was hanging in front of the side pocket with 6-7 balls still on the table. Player A made the 3 but scratched in the side trying to get on the 4-9 combo, as the 4 was near the middle of the table.

Her opponent who is an extremely weak player takes ball in hand getting ready to shoot this unmissable shot even for him. Down on the shot but before shooting she mutters that it’s good and walks from one end of table to the other right by the side pocket while he is shooting. For some reason (as I said he’s a weak player) he hits it quite hard and it pops out.

He apparently doesn’t realize she’s conceded and goes back towards his chair. She seems to think twice about considering what to do, then approaches the table to shoot. As TD, I’ve watched this unfold from not far away. Normally I would stay out of it and leave it between the 2 players, but I could see she was headed back to the table, clearly taking advantage of her opponent’s ignorance, so I asked her if she had conceded. She reluctantly confirmed that she had so I told her the game was over and it doesn’t matter whether he shot and missed or not, that the concession ended the game at that point.

She stormed off and then came back to me after a few minutes to question my decision. Again I told her plain and simple, once conceded the game is over regardless of what happens afterwards. I also told her that to avoid this conflict in the future, just don’t ever concede any shot, particularly to a player capable of missing any shot.

I know I’m correct on the rule, but just curious if others think I did the right thing by getting involved and calling her on it? I just didn’t feel right letting this other player getting taken advantage of in this situation.
 
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I don’t know man.. Don’t shoot the shot if someone conceded. That being said I wouldn’t have gone back to the table after doing so. The rare occurrence I do concede I always knock the ball in the hole and shake the persons hand. I would have had to say something to her.
It’s kind of the same thing for golf. If someone tells you you’re good on a putt don’t putt it. Lol pick that shit up and head back to your cart.
 
On one occasion I purposely missed after my opponent broke down their cue. 🤷‍♂️ It was funny, as I explained that concessions end the game as they frantically started to rejoin the two pieces that they had made such a big show of separating.
 
ChrisinNC said:
I know I’m correct on the rule, but just curious if others think I did the right thing by getting involved and calling her on it? I just didn’t feel right letting this other player getting taken advantage of in this situation.
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100% you did the right thing. I have zero patience for those taking advantage of the naive. IMO, the strong in this game need to protect and school the weak. Enforce the rules, call shady people out on their bs. Now that said, I reserve this methodology for the weak. Experienced players know better and should be playing attention. Personally I'm not hand holding a >500.

Regarding whether or not the shooter has any fault by shooting the ball.... It's a well known sharking tatic to concede money balls in an effort to keep players cold on the most important shot on the table. My approach has to always verbally confirm the concession and then shoot the ball anyway if I'm still trying to loosen up. You've already won the game, so no harm no foul. Anything else would be like a foul being called after a concession because you swept the balls for the next rack...lol
 
ChrisinNC said:
This happened in our weekly tournament the other night. In the hill-hill game, the 9 ball was hanging in front of the side pocket with 6-7 balls still on the table. Player A made the 3 but scratched in the side trying to get on the 4-9 combo, as the 4 was near the middle of the table.

Her opponent who is an extremely weak player takes ball in hand getting ready to shoot this unmissable shot even for him. Down on the shot but before shooting she mutters that it’s good and walks from one end of table to the other right by the side pocket while he is shooting. For some reason (as I said he’s a weak player) he hits it quite hard and it pops out.

He apparently doesn’t realize she’s conceded and goes back towards his chair. She seems to think twice about considering what to do, then approaches the table to shoot. As TD, I’ve watched this unfold from not far away. Normally I would stay out of it and leave it between the 2 players, but I could see she was headed back to the table, clearly taking advantage of her opponent’s ignorance, so I asked her if she had conceded. She reluctantly confirmed that she had so I told her the game was over and it doesn’t matter whether he shot and missed or not, that the concession ended the game at that point.

She stormed off and then came back to me after a few minutes to question my decision. Again I told her plain and simple, once conceded the game is over regardless of what happens afterwards. I also told her that to avoid this conflict in the future, just don’t ever concede any shot, particularly to a player capable of missing any shot.

I know I’m correct on the rule, but just curious if others think I did the right thing by getting involved and calling her on it? I just didn’t feel right letting this other player getting taken advantage of in this situation.
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You did the very thing you should do as a tournament director(y) Honestly? If my opponent concedes a game/match when I have yet a shot to shoot then I usually miss on purpose just to mess with his/her mind a little :cool:
 
jeez. As per https://wpapool.com/rules-of-play/

1.11 Concession

If a player concedes, he loses the match. For example, if a player unscrews his jointed playing cue stick while the opponent is at the table and during the opponent’s decisive rack of a match, it will be considered a concession of the match.

so with the vague language, her “concession” not only immediately lost her that rack, but also the entire match?? i can’t help but think this was written about a player conceding the match and not just a game but again the way it’s written doesn’t offer any wiggle room. the second sentence is a “for example” and mentions the decisive rack, but the sentence above just says flat out if you concede you lose the match. This needs to be re-written.
 
soyale said:
jeez. As per https://wpapool.com/rules-of-play/

1.11 Concession

If a player concedes, he loses the match. For example, if a player unscrews his jointed playing cue stick while the opponent is at the table and during the opponent’s decisive rack of a match, it will be considered a concession of the match.

so with the vague language, her “concession” not only immediately lost her that rack, but also the entire match?? i can’t help but think this was written about a player conceding the match and not just a game but again the way it’s written doesn’t offer any wiggle room. the second sentence is a “for example” and mentions the decisive rack, but the sentence above just says flat out if you concede you lose the match. This needs to be re-written.
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I have seen this enforced. An early rack concession is a shark move. Anyone that chooses to employ such a tactic should understand the rules. Otherwise they could get a surprising dose of justice.
Don't change the rule it is clear and just.
 
I agree with your decision. She sounds a poor loser type. When conceding, I remove the money ball and start racking.
 
gregcantrall said:
I have seen this enforced. An early rack concession is a shark move. Anyone that chooses to employ such a tactic should understand the rules. Otherwise they could get a surprising dose of justice.
Don't change the rule it is clear and just.
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seems pretty stiff. even downright unsportsmanlike conduct (which could include sharking) isn’t necessarily a loss of match, depending on the referees discretion. ( https://wpapool.com/rules-of-play/#617Unsportsmanlike-Conduct )

seems common enough among friends to concede the money ball, not as a shark but as a courtesy and sign of respect.

however i do agree that the way the rule is currently written, a player should know better than to risk it all over a measly concession.
 
soyale said:
seems pretty stiff. even downright unsportsmanlike conduct (which could include sharking) isn’t necessarily a loss of match, depending on the referees discretion. ( https://wpapool.com/rules-of-play/#617Unsportsmanlike-Conduct )

seems common enough among friends to concede the money ball, not as a shark but as a courtesy and sign of respect.

however i do agree that the way the rule is currently written, a player should know better than to risk it all over a measly concession.
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Concession of balls between friends doesn't end up before the judge. 🤷‍♂️
In pool tournament play it's important to know the rules. That is unless you like Surprise s.
 
ChrisinNC said:
This happened in our weekly tournament the other night. In the hill-hill game, the 9 ball was hanging in front of the side pocket with 6-7 balls still on the table. Player A made the 3 but scratched in the side trying to get on the 4-9 combo, as the 4 was near the middle of the table.

Her opponent who is an extremely weak player takes ball in hand getting ready to shoot this unmissable shot even for him. Down on the shot but before shooting she mutters that it’s good and walks from one end of table to the other right by the side pocket while he is shooting. For some reason (as I said he’s a weak player) he hits it quite hard and it pops out.

He apparently doesn’t realize she’s conceded and goes back towards his chair. She seems to think twice about considering what to do, then approaches the table to shoot. As TD, I’ve watched this unfold from not far away. Normally I would stay out of it and leave it between the 2 players, but I could see she was headed back to the table, clearly taking advantage of her opponent’s ignorance, so I asked her if she had conceded. She reluctantly confirmed that she had so I told her the game was over and it doesn’t matter whether he shot and missed or not, that the concession ended the game at that point.

She stormed off and then came back to me after a few minutes to question my decision. Again I told her plain and simple, once conceded the game is over regardless of what happens afterwards. I also told her that to avoid this conflict in the future, just don’t ever concede any shot, particularly to a player capable of missing any shot.

I know I’m correct on the rule, but just curious if others think I did the right thing by getting involved and calling her on it? I just didn’t feel right letting this other player getting taken advantage of in this situation.
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You made the correct call.
 
ChrisinNC said:
This happened in our weekly tournament the other night. In the hill-hill game, the 9 ball was hanging in front of the side pocket with 6-7 balls still on the table. Player A made the 3 but scratched in the side trying to get on the 4-9 combo, as the 4 was near the middle of the table.

Her opponent who is an extremely weak player takes ball in hand getting ready to shoot this unmissable shot even for him. Down on the shot but before shooting she mutters that it’s good and walks from one end of table to the other right by the side pocket while he is shooting. For some reason (as I said he’s a weak player) he hits it quite hard and it pops out.

He apparently doesn’t realize she’s conceded and goes back towards his chair. She seems to think twice about considering what to do, then approaches the table to shoot. As TD, I’ve watched this unfold from not far away. Normally I would stay out of it and leave it between the 2 players, but I could see she was headed back to the table, clearly taking advantage of her opponent’s ignorance, so I asked her if she had conceded. She reluctantly confirmed that she had so I told her the game was over and it doesn’t matter whether he shot and missed or not, that the concession ended the game at that point.

She stormed off and then came back to me after a few minutes to question my decision. Again I told her plain and simple, once conceded the game is over regardless of what happens afterwards. I also told her that to avoid this conflict in the future, just don’t ever concede any shot, particularly to a player capable of missing any shot.

I know I’m correct on the rule, but just curious if others think I did the right thing by getting involved and calling her on it? I just didn’t feel right letting this other player getting taken advantage of in this situation.
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Nice catch. Its 100% on her. She conceded. Its over.
 
gregcantrall said:
Concession of balls between friends doesn't end up before the judge. 🤷‍♂️
In pool tournament play it's important to know the rules. That is unless you like Surprise s.
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again, i’m agreeing with you, but i still feel the rule should be changed to avoid it coming up at all. If you can yell out “MISS” on your opponents backswing and get an unsportsmanlike foul that the ref calls loss of game, it doesn’t seem like conceding a hanger should automatically be loss of match.

OP’s story depicts a conniption over loss of game, i can only imagine the hysterics that would follow a loss of match ruling.
 
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