Did the world tournament in 14.1 throw off Mika in TAR match?

Salamander

Salamander

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Curious if others feel that the week of straight pool might have thrown off Mika's match with Shane in 10 ball? Or did it help?

Having never seen Mika play straight pool, I wonder if his stroke is the same regardless of the games? Did he play too conservative in the 10 ball match?

Or did it all come down to the break?
 
I don't think the worlds effected him at all.

Maybe mika is starting to feel the pressure now that the USopen is just a few days away. And trying to live up to the 3peat expectations that everyone has for him.

I think it's time for mika to regroup and get into focus !

-Steve
 
He was all business at the world's and I think wudda he took that same approach to amsterdam, just by watching how he carried himself at the 14.1
 
it's difficult staying mentally focused for extended periods especially after a grueling 14.1 tournament.
 
IMO 14.1 effected his rotation game a little bit. I watched most of the TAR match and he was practicing great, but he was not used to the new felt and format. Mika is a tourney player, and not much of a gambler.

The biggest two factors of the match were the break and the saftey play, and SVB schooled him in both!
 
Apocalypse2012 said:
IMO 14.1 effected his rotation game a little bit. I watched most of the TAR match and he was practicing great, but he was not used to the new felt and format. Mika is a tourney player, and not much of a gambler.

The biggest two factors of the match were the break and the saftey play, and SVB schooled him in both!
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That's kinda my feeling to. While Mika is a terrific player, and should be able to adjust quickly to different games, I can't help but feel that the subtle difference between the games might have affected him some.

Wish I had the time to view the TAR match. The break stats definately where on Shane's side. Interesting to know that the safety play favored Shane as well.

Thanks, Doug
 
stevekur1 said:
I don't think the worlds effected him at all.

Maybe mika is starting to feel the pressure now that the USopen is just a few days away. And trying to live up to the 3peat expectations that everyone has for him.

I think it's time for mika to regroup and get into focus !

-Steve
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Obviously a lot of pool within a month. It will be interesting to see how he performs at the open.

By the way, must have been fun to have played in the 14.1 event. Congrats on a respectable showing Steve.

Doug
 
It looked to me like Shane's break affected Mika more than the world 14.1 tournament did.
 
Salamander said:
By the way, must have been fun to have played in the 14.1 event. Congrats on a respectable showing Steve.

Doug
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Thanks Doug,

Playing in the worlds was amazing, i am just so upset that i didnt really get to play my game.....Damn Anxiety was in full effect !

out of my 5 matches, i will say that my last game with Ralf Eckert was the best. ralf hit me with a 75 ball run, and i stepped up to the table and told myself that i am probably only get one turn this game. so i shot right back at him with a 35 ball run, and did so without one nervous shake. after that ralf shot a few shots and left me dead safe when he missed....But Thats Pool !!!!

Hopefully i get to give it another go next year !

-Steve
 
Not easy to play against champions. All you can do is play each shot as correct as you can, let the rest take care of itself.

I believe that it was Irving Crane that was a proponent of playing "high percentage" 14.1. If he could only run 20 and duck, he would do so. He was a master at the safe game. I'm a proponent of the old school way of playing, which is chipping away at the stack. There may not be as many high runs, but if you are good at playing safe, you can put several 20's, and 30's on an opponent, and he never gets a shot.

At any rate, it shows great fortitude to come back with a 35 when you've just been hit with 70. Bravo.

Doug

stevekur1 said:
Thanks Doug,

Playing in the worlds was amazing, i am just so upset that i didnt really get to play my game.....Damn Anxiety was in full effect !

out of my 5 matches, i will say that my last game with Ralf Eckert was the best. ralf hit me with a 75 ball run, and i stepped up to the table and told myself that i am probably only get one turn this game. so i shot right back at him with a 35 ball run, and did so without one nervous shake. after that ralf shot a few shots and left me dead safe when he missed....But Thats Pool !!!!

Hopefully i get to give it another go next year !

-Steve
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Salamander said:
Not easy to play against champions. All you can do is play each shot as correct as you can, let the rest take care of itself.

I believe that it was Irving Crane that was a proponent of playing "high percentage" 14.1. If he could only run 20 and duck, he would do so. He was a master at the safe game. I'm a proponent of the old school way of playing, which is chipping away at the stack. There may not be as many high runs, but if you are good at playing safe, you can put several 20's, and 30's on an opponent, and he never gets a shot.

At any rate, it shows great fortitude to come back with a 35 when you've just been hit with 70. Bravo.

Doug
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Thanks for the advice. I had plenty of safety battles, each of whixh went like 5 or 6 turns each. i wasnt gonna be that guy whole tries the hard cut going up table and selling out. each turn i gave him more balls to defend against. i am very proud of the way i played my safe game at least.

i just could sieze the opportunities and run some balls when the safety battle was won.

-Steve
 
sausage said:
it's difficult staying mentally focused for extended periods especially after a grueling 14.1 tournament.
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SVB just lost to Mike Dechaine 11-3 in the first round of the US Open. Without a short break between events, I do think that these back-to-back events that SVB and Mika have participated in are effecting their performance.
 
PoolSharkAllen said:
SVB just lost to Mike Dechaine 11-3 in the first round of the US Open. Without a short break between events, I do think that these back-to-back events that SVB and Mika have participated in are effecting their performance.
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that may come into play a little but all in all mikey plays pretty good and all day long they're gonna back and forth.
 
Hi all,

for sure i like Mika- but for a player with his abilities there is for sure no excuse if he perhaps played/practiced other games. He was just not in stroke-and this could happen to almost everyone. And further: in such a big and long tournament there are much more points like condition, concentration etc. -

He wasn t that bad in my opinion^^ Just a few other felt better at the right moment-that s all.

(this could be taken for many other players there,too,not just for Mika)

lg
Ingo
 
Mika seems to be holding his own at the US Open right now. He is a tournament player not a gambler.

SVB is making a run through the one loss side too though. I would love to see them in the finals and see how Mika plays in a short set.
 
metallicane said:
Mika seems to be holding his own at the US Open right now. He is a tournament player not a gambler.

SVB is making a run through the one loss side too though. I would love to see them in the finals and see how Mika plays in a short set.
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+1

SVB comes from the losers side to knock Mika off in the Finals, so he doesn's 3 peat @ the US Open would be awesome!
 
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