Earl vs. Efren re-match in Hong Kong 20 years later

I still can't figure out how Earl lost...with utmost respect to Efren. But Earl played like god for most of the match. Maybe over-confidence near the end?

Only Earl could have built that kind of a lead on Efren and only Earl could've squandered all of it on the last day.
 
Pearl and Magician

Only Earl could have built that kind of a lead on Efren and only Earl could've squandered all of it on the last day.

At the end Earl made some bad mistakes, IMO... Efren left Earl a runout, Earl power
strokes a shot, scratches. Next rack, two rail position, again Earl scratched. When Earl
gets in that "I don't care if I win" mode, he's beating himself.
 
Astounding

It was shocking to see that Earl had a lead of 17 games with the score at
104-87, and eventually lose....(I mean he only had to win 16 more games while Efren had to win 33!)...especially the way he had dominated the game on the way to that lead....some have said (and I agree) that the match displayed some of the greatest and finest exhibition of 9-ball mastery in history.......It was just as disappointing to see Earl mentally give it up at the end......
I believe it was still within his power to win, even when Efren caught up to him......near the end it seemed he just gave it up........
 
He hit a curve ball with inside and went 3 rails, scratching in the side. I think that was the death blow.

Mark Wilson didn't like the shot to start with.
 
Its a work of art. The quality of play and atmosphere is something out of a movie.

Very nice way of putting it.

That match was the one that I clearly remember starting my path on pool addiction.

My and a friend would order the AccuStats VHS of that match a few at a time and pretty much wear them out.

I don't know which one of us has the tapes now but I got them on my computer to keep and still enjoy watching them. In fact, I have the full set on my phone.

I think the only match so far that can keep pace with this for sheer playing power is the first TAR match with Corey and Shane when Shane put 10 ball packages together like they were 6 ball. The announcers were in awe of him.
 
I actually did analysis and stats about end of match... I will copu paste my post from another thread :

(from another thread)

Hi. I been small slump couple months now and try watch good games from internet to get back on track.
So i remember i watched great match long ago: COLOR OF MONEY 1995 - Earl vs. Efren. Race to 120. 100K $ to winner
That comeback Efren do there is truly amazing. I watched it again and made some notes and stats.


Strickland has been playing and breaking like a machine and after last dinner break Earl is up 104 - 87 on race to 120.
Earl make positional error 1st game and that gives Magician chance to start catch race.
He just go dead stroke by will.

Efren clears 1st rack and run out next. Then dry break allows Earl back to table and he clear it fast. Earl misses on next rack and Efren moves on and takes 4 racks 1 visit.
Finally Reyes break dry and allows Earl back on table but Earl fail position and Efren takes that game and run out nex rack again.
So next game Efren finally make first mistake! and score is 95-105... not bad start to comeback.

Earl cares a little how good Efren played and capitalize his first error by clearing first table and running 3 more racks.
So even Reyes played already like a god after dinner Earl is still big favorite when he finally misses when score is 95 - 109. Reyes step up and claims again 4 racks 1 visit and end his inning by playing safety(99 - 109).
Earl misses and Efren snatch AGAIN 4 games 1 visit AND ends his inning again playing safety (103 - 109). BTW Earl makes his move when game is 100 - 109 he clearly sharks Efren and even commentators made comment about that...
Efren answers Earl sharking by running couple racks

Efren safety pays off and he claims that rack too. 104 - 109 now. Efren also made mind games against Earl back that game like a boss.
He played tight positional play and hit chalk on table like he was angry but he does see ball and makes clears table
Efren noticed how Earl was getting little upset because Efren start getting close so he used gentleman way shark Earl .. that is how i see that.

Next rack Efren chooses to play safety but Earl see ball and counters.
Efren masse hit and get roll but Earl shoot great bank from end rail and clears table. 104 -110.
Next rack Earl makes little careless push and and Efren PUNISHES by taking AGAIN 4 RACKS. 108 - 110.
WTF from 87 - 104 game is now 108 - 110 and Efren have made ONE UNFORCED ERROR. playing for 100k lol.

Efren again ends his inning by masterful safety but Earl make world beater kick shot in and runs that rack. 108 - 111.

Earl plays great safe and Efren makes difficult 2 rail kick and tries carom 9 on that same shot too but the carom is missed slightly and he scrathes...
But Earl misses surprise ball and Efren takes again 3 games 1 visit! And tie score to 111 - 111

Again Efren have difficult place after break and he executes perfect safe and Earl leaves Efren a shot after kick. Efren clears table and run next rack too... 113 - 111 to Efren ...

damn i don´t have time to write more gotta go work.. but you get the point that 87 - 104 to 113 - 111 he made 2 errors and second was scratching from Earl safes..

If thats not best pool ever. WHAT IS THEN?

I made playlist to whole match some time ago.. if you haven´t seen match already.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...ry=efe+vs+earl

Wow man
That can be a thesis on "Color of Money Game"
This will be just a fun match that is all. I hope they do not push Efren and Earl out in wheelchairs 20 years from now to pay Wheelchair pool :grin-square:
 
Is this match even being streamed at all??

According to the website it is already over. It says thursday & friday at 8pm german time. That would make it 6am saturday as i write this. This was only a race to 40 stopping at 20 on thursday then finishing friday, so it's long over by now.
 
According to the website it is already over. It says thursday & friday at 8pm german time. That would make it 6am saturday as i write this. This was only a race to 40 stopping at 20 on thursday then finishing friday, so it's long over by now.

Yeah, I slept through the time zone change. :embarrassed2: Anyone know who won?
 
If it's still a race to 120 I'm going with Efren. He has the attitude for long races, Earl doesn't

it was just an exhibition where they were both paid. race to 40 Efren won 40 to 27. they are also in tournament there.
 
it was just an exhibition where they were both paid. race to 40 Efren won 40 to 27. they are also in tournament there.

I thought they were playing to 40 over a 2 day time frame (25-26th of Sept). They played it all out in one day?
 
I thought they were playing to 40 over a 2 day time frame (25-26th of Sept). They played it all out in one day?

I put all this in post 32, it was the 24th/25th stopped at 20 on 1st day with Efren leading 20-15 & ended 40-27. it was just an exhibition not a big money match like years ago, Earl has been traveling alot lately giving lessons & exhibitions overseas. by the way check out the 4 weights on earl's arm. ridiculous
45156066b6cdb7c91443261292.jpg

74856066c828a0fa1443261570.jpg
 
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I put all this in post 32, it was the 24th/25th stopped at 20 on 1st day with Efren leading 20-15 & ended 40-27. it was just an exhibition not a big money match like years ago, Earl has been traveling alot lately giving lessons & exhibitions overseas. by the way check out the 4 weights on earl's arm. ridiculous
45156066b6cdb7c91443261292.jpg

74856066c828a0fa1443261570.jpg

Hre's another shot of Earl, taken at the recent World Straight Pool Championship, with his arm weights. I think they weigh about 6-8 pounds.
 

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I put all this in post 32, it was the 24th/25th stopped at 20 on 1st day with Efren leading 20-15 & ended 40-27. it was just an exhibition not a big money match like years ago, Earl has been traveling alot lately giving lessons & exhibitions overseas. by the way check out the 4 weights on earl's arm. ridiculous
45156066b6cdb7c91443261292.jpg

74856066c828a0fa1443261570.jpg

Sorry, should have re-read your post.

Thanks for the updates. I was expecting Earl to win due to the age difference, but gotta give credit to Efren for stepping up.

The arm weights are really getting out of hand now- 4 of them! I might give arm weights a try some time thought to see if it does really help you stay down on the shot. However, I might be too embarrassed to use them in public!
 
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