I'm not sure where to begin with this but I shall start with a brief thread. I have been trying to track down Efren for the past two weeks and finally I met a guy who knew a guy etc and they told me efren was at a particular pool club tonight. I had told everyone that I wanted to play efren and only efren, after all he's the greatest IMO. Well tonight I got extreemly lucky, he was at a local pool hall and I had got my wish and had the chance to play him. I arrived at coronado lanes and when I walked in it was packed with lots of local players with a large money game going on in the centre. I promtly went to the bathroom and wondered wether I had made the right decision to play such a great player in front of so many people - his adouring fans no less! I was worried about making a fool of myself given my lack of expertise with the larger balls. However I reminded myself that this was what I had come to Manila for and went back in the pool room. I found efrens manager and to my disbelief there was efren sat on the same table playing chess against another local. I offered either two short races or a longer race for a larger amount. We agreed on a race to 11 for a very modest $200. I asked Efren for the breaks but to my disbelief he refused, and he also offered no other spot. However he did offere me the first break LOL! The game was 8 ball which I preffered given 1) he was the current world champion and 2) my break still sucked in 9 ball. I wasn't keen to play in this particular pool hall as the tables where poor and very slow, however this was an opportunity too good to miss so let Efren pick the table and off we went!
I was very nervous and missed a ball in the first and efren ran out for a 1:0 lead. He hooked himself on his last ball in the next and I ran out to make it 1:1. I then ran out the next 2 to make it 3:1. I went in off on my break and Efren pulled it back to 4:4. I nudged ahead to 7:5 with some good clearences and then Efren pulled it back to 8:8. I have to confess that after the first frame I though here we go, I'm going to get thrashed here. But when I was 7:5 up I thought this is great, I don't care if I win another game lol! However at 8:8 my break let me down and efren potted out to go 9:8 in front for the first time since the first rack. Then he potted out on his break to go to the hill 10:8 in front. It was my break next and I knew that he would have the next break for the match but I should still try and put some pressure on him. I broke and ran out to make it 10:9. However despite losing ideal position a couple of times in the last rack efren ran out for the win. He asked to play me again giving me a 2 start which I took as a great compliment but I declined.Luat was also there but I only had eyes for efren and he had just edged me out on home turf off even - that was enough for me!
Overall I think we missed two balls each, and efren snookered himself on his last ball once or twice. given the circumstances and my part time status I am happy with my showing - I didn't miss much and I think all the frame wins where 8 ball clearences. How many sports do you get to play the world champion!
Taxi fair and new pair of undies - $5
Race to eleven against the greatest 8 ball player ever - us$200
satisfaction from playing the magician himself and taking 9 him to the wire off scratch - priceless!!
I am still pinching myself!
I was very nervous and missed a ball in the first and efren ran out for a 1:0 lead. He hooked himself on his last ball in the next and I ran out to make it 1:1. I then ran out the next 2 to make it 3:1. I went in off on my break and Efren pulled it back to 4:4. I nudged ahead to 7:5 with some good clearences and then Efren pulled it back to 8:8. I have to confess that after the first frame I though here we go, I'm going to get thrashed here. But when I was 7:5 up I thought this is great, I don't care if I win another game lol! However at 8:8 my break let me down and efren potted out to go 9:8 in front for the first time since the first rack. Then he potted out on his break to go to the hill 10:8 in front. It was my break next and I knew that he would have the next break for the match but I should still try and put some pressure on him. I broke and ran out to make it 10:9. However despite losing ideal position a couple of times in the last rack efren ran out for the win. He asked to play me again giving me a 2 start which I took as a great compliment but I declined.Luat was also there but I only had eyes for efren and he had just edged me out on home turf off even - that was enough for me!
Overall I think we missed two balls each, and efren snookered himself on his last ball once or twice. given the circumstances and my part time status I am happy with my showing - I didn't miss much and I think all the frame wins where 8 ball clearences. How many sports do you get to play the world champion!
Taxi fair and new pair of undies - $5
Race to eleven against the greatest 8 ball player ever - us$200
satisfaction from playing the magician himself and taking 9 him to the wire off scratch - priceless!!
I am still pinching myself!
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Peace, John.
