Efren's Performance in the '99 WPC- Best Ever?

[cuetechasaurus]

Efren was trailing Ralph Souquet 7-3, and then all of a sudden, Efren runs a flawless 8pack to win the set. Two or three matches later against Bustamante, Efren is trailing 3-1, Bustamante scratches on the break, and Efren runs an INCREDIBLE 9-pack to reach the hill. In both of these runs, there were no 9's made on the break, and no 9ball combinations, except one against Souqet IIRC. He broke and ran every single one of them. In his 9pack against Bustamante, Efren came with these unbelievable shots on the low ball to run out some very difficult racks. I was in awe. Jay Helfert did some of the commentating on the last few racks of it. Jay what were you thinking when you watched this amazing feat?

And to run an 8 pack and then a 9 pack in one tournament, is that a record?

 

[pro9dg]

He was very lucky to make it out of the group stages that year. He trailed 1-7 to France's Vincent Facquet and needed to win to advance. Incredibly, he came back to win 8-7. The races were longer then as there were only 96 players in the field.

 

[bengus]

Efren was trailing Ralph Souquet 7-3, (cut)I was in awe.

So was half of Manila staying up in the wee hours of the morning watching that.

Seriously, as one who's seen Efren many times, I've never seen a performance like that out of him before or since.

He was very lucky to make it out of the group stages that year. He trailed 1-7 to France's Vincent Facquet and needed to win to advance. Incredibly, he came back to win 8-7. The races were longer then as there were only 96 players in the field.

The races are longer now with alternate break in the group stages: http://2006worldpool.com/Matches.htm

It's still race to 8, but it gives a fairer chance for a skilled player to emerge victorious in the earlier stages.

I believe that they should still keep winner's break in the knockout stages.

Efren being lucky... sheesh. That joke should be on its last legs by now.

 

[SloRoller]

So was half of Manila staying up in the wee hours of the morning watching that.

Seriously, as one who's seen Efren many times, I've never seen a performance like that out of him before or since.

This past May in Vegas , Efren was down 1-9 against Allan Hopkins, and came back and won it 10-9. The most amazing thing is it was alternate breaks.

SR

 

[jay helfert]

Efren was trailing Ralph Souquet 7-3, and then all of a sudden, Efren runs a flawless 8pack to win the set. Two or three matches later against Bustamante, Efren is trailing 3-1, Bustamante scratches on the break, and Efren runs an INCREDIBLE 9-pack to reach the hill. In both of these runs, there were no 9's made on the break, and no 9ball combinations, except one against Souqet IIRC. He broke and ran every single one of them. In his 9pack against Bustamante, Efren came with these unbelievable shots on the low ball to run out some very difficult racks. I was in awe. Jay Helfert did some of the commentating on the last few racks of it. Jay what were you thinking when you watched this amazing feat?

And to run an 8 pack and then a 9 pack in one tournament, is that a record?

What was I thinking? I don't remember my commentary, but I was probably gushing a little.

I was thinking that this was as good as I ever saw anyone play in a tournament. I mean Efren ran out from anywhere and everywhere, and did it flawlessly. To this day, I can't say that I have ever seen any pool player perform like that in such a setting. The World Pool Championships, the TV table, great opponents, and the whole tournament on the line.

To say Efren played great is an understatement. The only comparable feat I remember was when the little Spaniard (Bob Jewett help me) ran 15 and out on Ceulemans in the World Championships in Vegas in the 80's (Ceulemans was on 47, needing three). This was the Semifinals and in the Finals he made another miraculous comeback to beat Blomdahl.

 

[ballball]

and Efren got his own dose of medicine...... defending his title in 2000 i think he is leading 8-2 to Steve Davis, then suddenly Davis ran 7 racks !!

 

[PoolBum]

What was I thinking? I don't remember my commentary, but I was probably gushing a little.

I was thinking that this was as good as I ever saw anyone play in a tournament. I mean Efren ran out from anywhere and everywhere, and did it flawlessly. To this day, I can't say that I have ever seen any pool player perform like that in such a setting. The World Pool Championships, the TV table, great opponents, and the whole tournament on the line.

To say Efren played great is an understatement. The only comparable feat I remember was when the little Spaniard (Bob Jewett help me) ran 15 and out on Ceulemans in the World Championships in Vegas in the 80's (Ceulemans was on 47, needing three). This was the Semifinals and in the Finals he made another miraculous comeback to beat Blomdahl.

Was that Rico?

 

[john_phillips23]

and Efren got his own dose of medicine...... defending his title in 2000 i think he is leading 8-2 to Steve Davis, then suddenly Davis ran 7 racks !!

Davis won 7 in a row, but not through breaking and running out - those 7 racks included some inspired safety battles, with Davis coming out on top every time.

As a Davis fan, that was the most amazing thing I ever watched. He'd barely scraped through the group stage of the WPC, and when I discovered he was due to play Reyes, I just thought he'd be a lamb to the slaughter, as his presence in the competition had been (by his own admission) mainly to help get the Snooker audience to watch pool. At 8-2 I could barely watch, but the comeback was just the most unexpected thing I think I've ever seen.

To Jay Helfert - I really miss you commentating on the WPC. You and Steve Davis together were wonderful, looking at things from 2 totally different, but equally valid peresppectives, and very funny and entertaining with it. Please come back!

 

[ShootingArts]

of course he is lucky

Efren being lucky... sheesh. That joke should be on its last legs by now.

Of course Efren is lucky. We here that from him after every event win. The guy doing the interview was ragging him about that after a one pocket win trying to get him to say more so Efren gave a tiny amount of critique on the match and of course finished with, "I got lucky."

Efren is certainly the luckiest player around. Hard work, skill, a little bit of a gift, and perhaps the greatest will to win when the chips are down = luck.

Hu