I have been a little torn about the formats of tournaments like the U.S. Open 9 Ball Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship who allow double elimination all the way up until the final match which is SINGLE ELIMINATION.
I've had some tortuous thoughts about this format and I would appreciate some scrutiny of my thoughts by others here on AZ.
Sometimes, I am a front runner and sometimes I come from behind. When I am a front runner and sitting in the cat bird's seat waiting for the finalist of the loser's bracket, I often find this format disconcerting. It doesn't seem fair that the loser who has already lost one match, is allowed to play me, the finalist on the winner's side and if the loser finalist beats me one set, I am done. I torture myself in that I don't see how that is fair. After all the Loser Finalist lost one match and he only beat me one time. How can they crown him champion?
Well, after much discussion with my friend Keith Shilling of New Orleans, I am not as torn as before.
It seems that the opportunity to play a single CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS MATCH is there for all when the tournament starts. You may come from the one loss side or be king of the hill on the winner's side.
I have studied and listened to many players over the years about coming from the one loss side and playing a single match for the tournament's first place finish and it seems that there is a LARGE ADVANTAGE to come from the one loss side if there is no double elimination in the finals match.
Some of the advantages are: If early on you wind up on the one loss side, you often play against slightly weaker opponents who give you a chance to get in stroke by allowing you more repetitions at the table. As yo udevelop confidence in your game and as you beat opponent after opponent, racing toward the FINAL MATCH, the endorphins push you to greater heights and more confidence. The winner of the winner's side sits in a freezer, silently waiting for an ever better playing opponent fighting his way out of the one loss bracket, getting stronger with every match.
I ALMOST think it is better to lose your first loss of the tournament at about the 1/3 mark, especially if you aren't too tired to finish the tournament with a flourish. This enables you to face opponents that could beat you in any match but who are generally weaker than those at the top of the tournament echelon at the end. You have to play well to beat these players in the middle level but they are more likely to give you more opportunity to do so than the guys in the last several matches of the tournament.
I haven't settled in on letting someone coast on by me just yet and I'm hoping for you guys and girls to explain to me how sitting in the cat bird's seat (winner of the winner's bracket) , getting cold and waiting for a red hot buzz saw coming out of the one loss side, is better than playing throught the one loss side.
I would love to hear everyone's thoughts but especially those who have been in this situation a few times.
It just seems to me that there the winner of the one loss side has a distinct advantage over the winner of the winner's bracket. If the winner of the winner's bracket side is still the best choice, how do you prepare yourself for a red hot buzz saw?
Thanks,
JoeyA
edited apology: sorry if this sounded a little travis trotter
I've had some tortuous thoughts about this format and I would appreciate some scrutiny of my thoughts by others here on AZ.
Sometimes, I am a front runner and sometimes I come from behind. When I am a front runner and sitting in the cat bird's seat waiting for the finalist of the loser's bracket, I often find this format disconcerting. It doesn't seem fair that the loser who has already lost one match, is allowed to play me, the finalist on the winner's side and if the loser finalist beats me one set, I am done. I torture myself in that I don't see how that is fair. After all the Loser Finalist lost one match and he only beat me one time. How can they crown him champion?
Well, after much discussion with my friend Keith Shilling of New Orleans, I am not as torn as before.
It seems that the opportunity to play a single CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS MATCH is there for all when the tournament starts. You may come from the one loss side or be king of the hill on the winner's side.
I have studied and listened to many players over the years about coming from the one loss side and playing a single match for the tournament's first place finish and it seems that there is a LARGE ADVANTAGE to come from the one loss side if there is no double elimination in the finals match.
Some of the advantages are: If early on you wind up on the one loss side, you often play against slightly weaker opponents who give you a chance to get in stroke by allowing you more repetitions at the table. As yo udevelop confidence in your game and as you beat opponent after opponent, racing toward the FINAL MATCH, the endorphins push you to greater heights and more confidence. The winner of the winner's side sits in a freezer, silently waiting for an ever better playing opponent fighting his way out of the one loss bracket, getting stronger with every match.
I ALMOST think it is better to lose your first loss of the tournament at about the 1/3 mark, especially if you aren't too tired to finish the tournament with a flourish. This enables you to face opponents that could beat you in any match but who are generally weaker than those at the top of the tournament echelon at the end. You have to play well to beat these players in the middle level but they are more likely to give you more opportunity to do so than the guys in the last several matches of the tournament.
I haven't settled in on letting someone coast on by me just yet and I'm hoping for you guys and girls to explain to me how sitting in the cat bird's seat (winner of the winner's bracket) , getting cold and waiting for a red hot buzz saw coming out of the one loss side, is better than playing throught the one loss side.
I would love to hear everyone's thoughts but especially those who have been in this situation a few times.
It just seems to me that there the winner of the one loss side has a distinct advantage over the winner of the winner's bracket. If the winner of the winner's bracket side is still the best choice, how do you prepare yourself for a red hot buzz saw?
Thanks,
JoeyA
edited apology: sorry if this sounded a little travis trotter
