Let me share something with you guys. Pool at this level (and maybe at any level) has a great deal of psychology to it. By this I mean the players are aware of who has the edge on the other guy based on past experience. This prior knowledge can affect the outcome of a match in many subtle ways.
Dennis may be the most dangerous money player on the planet right now and ALL the other players know it, including Shane! Shane would truly love to overcome this obstacle, and beating Dennis in a tournament match would help him to do that. There is added pressure on Shane when he plays Dennis, whether he would like to admit it or not.
Shane happens to be a great player, well respected by all the top players worldwide. He is acknowledged for having the best break in Ten Ball. That said, there is a lot more to his game than his big break. He's a great shot maker, can move the cue ball with the best of them and knows all the defensive moves. He has all the tools of a great pool player and the heart to go with it, which happens to be the most important ingredient of the champions. Without a big heart the rest is worthless.
Shane Van Boening IS a champion and so is Dennis Orcollo. We were fortunate to see them play in the finals this weekend at Hard Times. Next time it might turn out differently. I know one thing, Shane is back at the practice table right now. That's how he rolls!
As for Dennis he played all day yesterday at my pad on a very tough Diamond table. He took on Manny Chau first and then Brandon Shuff. It looked like he was fresh as a daisy, even after a night out celebrating his victory. Manny plays some damn good pool and Brandon shoots lights out. But Dennis is simply AMAZING to watch! His execution of tough shots is remarkable and flawless. He can shoot the "wrong shot" and make it work for him. There is no "low percentage" shot when he is at the table. Watching him pop in long tough shots on these super tight pockets can be a little bit demoralizing for his opponents.
Dennis is a study in concentration and focus, the way good pool should (and must) be played. No "system" can make up for poor concentration. If you want to play good pool, you better learn to focus all your energy on each and every shot. Max has it right, there is definitely a Zen to pool. A single mindedness of purpose that transcends everything else. I would suggest training your mind and your body will follow.
This is also why so many of the great players have a healthy life style and good exercise regimen. A well conditioned athlete has a more healthy brain as well, and that sharpness pays off late in the day when your mind can start to wander. Take a look around at Mika, Ralf, Thorsten, Charlie, Shane etc. It's no surprise these guys are champions. Same can be said for many of the other great Asian players from Taiwan, China and Japan.
After all these years I still love to see great players go at it, playing the toughest game on Earth. Yes the money isn't huge but the challenge is! There's an exhilaration to playing pool well that is addictive. And playing great pool even more so! :smile:
