Only one.
Played the us open once and got my feelings hurt with a 2n'out, 11-9 and 11-10.
Played the us open once and got my feelings hurt with a 2n'out, 11-9 and 11-10.
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Ever play in a tourney you know you have no business playing in?
- Thread starter m79a
- Start date
EndoftheLine
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when I decided to get back into playing pool, I called a pool hall that I used to get mailings from about Ladies tournaments to see if I could get back on a mailing list or an email list. well, there are no more Ladies tournaments (except for league ones and I wasn't in any leagues at the time) but the room was sponsoring an Invitation only event and the room owner offered to invite me. I told him right up front that is was well past my speed but hey, send me the invite. I did entry (for $80) just to see what it was like. When I got to the venue (1.75 hrs away), and went into the pool hall, it got kinda quiet but I just wandered up to the counter. The room owner spoke right up to me and called me by name. I was kinda curious as to how he even knew my name. Well, it turned out I was the only female in the event. I heard some of the older gentlemen saying how they hadn't been to the room since being there with Boston Shorty and such. The men were from all over New England. There were maybe 2 gentlemen playing that I knew slightly as well as 1 really good local (to where I live) guy who came in very close to start time and somehow he knew me because he nodded at me when he saw me. Then they had the Calcutta and drew the brackets out. They must have just put me in the first slot being the only female and had me play my first match on the first table...right in front of where most of the spectators were sitting and I thought OH GREAT.....my first opponent walked up and looked at me and asked if I was playing at that table and I responded YES. He then said...>There must be some mistake and proceeded to go check out the brackets again. I did kinda chuckle then!....So, here I am, just trying to get back into playing and NOT having done any really practicing before this even, and dealing with cataracts playing with the big boys. I can recall trying to figure out if I can even make it past a ball in the way of the 1 and just going for it and nailing in one of the racks and hearing someone behind me whispering....I didn't think that could be hit....If they only knew, I didn't either! LOL. Well I beat the guy 9-3. Then I moved to a table out back and to this day, it seems that if I play away from an audience I don't play as well. I lost then. I got thru another match though and it was getting late and as I was sitting around people staring asking me, Are you still in this? And telling other folks...hey that girl is still in! so with 1loss and 2 wins, I had to play a guy who was a local. I GAVE him two racks when I rattled the nine and lost 7-5. That tournament gave me incentive to get back into pool....I would play a tourney like that over most any.....best thrill I had in a long time!
EVERY CHANCE I GET!
Play in the derby 9ball every year I can just hoping to draw a champion for the experience. put a good fight a few years back and won 5 on my race. No champion but still played real good, some guy from NY.
This past year, I was going to try and enter the US Open, because they said if I wasn't local, I didn't have to win a qualifier. I strongly considered coughing up the cash to play, (well.... watch tableside) just to play a champion. When I asked my wife if she wanted to go to Virginia Beach for vacation, she agreed to go. When she found she'd be the only one actually going to the beach, the plans changed real quick lol.
Play in the derby 9ball every year I can just hoping to draw a champion for the experience. put a good fight a few years back and won 5 on my race. No champion but still played real good, some guy from NY.
This past year, I was going to try and enter the US Open, because they said if I wasn't local, I didn't have to win a qualifier. I strongly considered coughing up the cash to play, (well.... watch tableside) just to play a champion. When I asked my wife if she wanted to go to Virginia Beach for vacation, she agreed to go. When she found she'd be the only one actually going to the beach, the plans changed real quick lol.
What do you mean when you say 'no business playing in"? Even B players are at least somewhat likely to win a match or two in all but the biggest tournaments like the US open. If you can win a match, I'd say there is no doubt you belong, even if you are still 'dead money'.
When I was a B player (or by some standards, a C player) I played in the Reno Open and won 2 matches. Not a great finish, but I doubt anybody could say I had no business playing. The Reno Open at the time was probably the biggest event in the western US.
Also, I doubt you will get any complaints about entering a tournament from better players. Better players LOVE weaker players playing, no matter the skill. The guys who are critical of lower level players entering high level tournaments are generally people that are embarassed by their own lack of skill.
When I was a B player (or by some standards, a C player) I played in the Reno Open and won 2 matches. Not a great finish, but I doubt anybody could say I had no business playing. The Reno Open at the time was probably the biggest event in the western US.
Also, I doubt you will get any complaints about entering a tournament from better players. Better players LOVE weaker players playing, no matter the skill. The guys who are critical of lower level players entering high level tournaments are generally people that are embarassed by their own lack of skill.
Tournament Play
When I was younger I entered as many Billiards tournaments as I could. Mostly all local or regional. This was mostly in the 80s and early 90s. I usually made it at least to day two, even though I was often outclassed in the largest tournaments. No matter how I placed I learned enough to feel the entry fee was worth the lesson. I had bad days but overall it brought out some of my best play. Nothing ever brought out the best as did money play. I fought in many Karate tournaments for many years and the experience was very similar to Billiards. Nervousness, then exhilaration, and later wishing it had not ended and reliving the key moments that were either great and/or embarrassing.
When I was younger I entered as many Billiards tournaments as I could. Mostly all local or regional. This was mostly in the 80s and early 90s. I usually made it at least to day two, even though I was often outclassed in the largest tournaments. No matter how I placed I learned enough to feel the entry fee was worth the lesson. I had bad days but overall it brought out some of my best play. Nothing ever brought out the best as did money play. I fought in many Karate tournaments for many years and the experience was very similar to Billiards. Nervousness, then exhilaration, and later wishing it had not ended and reliving the key moments that were either great and/or embarrassing.
I'm of the same mind..once in a while I'll jump in a local if its not full of master an strong a players..I use to not care..just finnishing in the bottom ten was okay..then
it was one out of the money..I'll play in the handicap tourney once in a while too.
still end up the same..The thing is..I can play some of these same guys for nothing
and still lose..sure I win sometimes..but the fact is..their better then I am..I don't have
to loose money to find this out..lol.I think its cool they want to play me..that or they
feel sorry for me because I'm shooting by myself..doubt it.
wow..must be lonely again the wife is watching foot ball an
I'm bored..guess I'll go hit a few..lol.
Yup....did that very thing this past summer. $100 buy-in for 16 players winner take all. The format wasn't popular with a winner take all payout and so we didn't draw a full field.........only ten of us were willing to take the plunge. The tournament was a race to 7 on the winners side and 5 on the losers.....open field......no handicap.
I went out quick but so did some other guys I consider better players than myself. Both my matches were ones I could have won but we all do that after we lose......if such and such ball had dropped or this or that. But honestly, in retrospect, I had my chances to win.
Once made the 9 ball on the break but it was the head corner pocket; when you rack your own, your forfeit the head corner pockets and the 9 ball gets spotted but you keep shooting. Made the 9 once running the table and scratched; scratched on the 8 ball once and gave ball in hand. I also jawed the 9 ball twice leaving it in front of the corner pocket......lost that first match 7-5.
Next match went surprisingly good for awhile and then went ice cold.......took a 3-0 lead and scratched on the 8 ball giving up an easy win. My opponent then wins the next two games....close ones too......then he makes the 9 ball on the break..........last game after making the 1 ball on the snap, he 3 fouls me with hiding the cue ball in crazy positions blinding me on the 2 ball magnificently..........incredible safety play he hadn't revealed up until then in our match.............and I'm out of the tournament. It was a surprise to learn the money isn't an issue when I play competitively....it's my focus and patience to maintain focus or stop.....walk around for a few seconds....reaffirm the shot selection and cue ball travel path afterwards and assume to take the shot.....to play more like the way I know I'm able to play.....that's what I learned.
It was a great experience to be playing every game/match as "all-in".....no 2nd place finish....or 3rd......win it or lose it all. I was astonished I never felt nervous at any time....not in my warm-up practice or either of my matches.....maybe it was because I was a long shot to take it and the field was really strong as well. Nonetheless, I'd do it again and look forward to playing in some bigger money tournaments when I recover from my shoulder surgery.
I went out quick but so did some other guys I consider better players than myself. Both my matches were ones I could have won but we all do that after we lose......if such and such ball had dropped or this or that. But honestly, in retrospect, I had my chances to win.
Once made the 9 ball on the break but it was the head corner pocket; when you rack your own, your forfeit the head corner pockets and the 9 ball gets spotted but you keep shooting. Made the 9 once running the table and scratched; scratched on the 8 ball once and gave ball in hand. I also jawed the 9 ball twice leaving it in front of the corner pocket......lost that first match 7-5.
Next match went surprisingly good for awhile and then went ice cold.......took a 3-0 lead and scratched on the 8 ball giving up an easy win. My opponent then wins the next two games....close ones too......then he makes the 9 ball on the break..........last game after making the 1 ball on the snap, he 3 fouls me with hiding the cue ball in crazy positions blinding me on the 2 ball magnificently..........incredible safety play he hadn't revealed up until then in our match.............and I'm out of the tournament. It was a surprise to learn the money isn't an issue when I play competitively....it's my focus and patience to maintain focus or stop.....walk around for a few seconds....reaffirm the shot selection and cue ball travel path afterwards and assume to take the shot.....to play more like the way I know I'm able to play.....that's what I learned.
It was a great experience to be playing every game/match as "all-in".....no 2nd place finish....or 3rd......win it or lose it all. I was astonished I never felt nervous at any time....not in my warm-up practice or either of my matches.....maybe it was because I was a long shot to take it and the field was really strong as well. Nonetheless, I'd do it again and look forward to playing in some bigger money tournaments when I recover from my shoulder surgery.
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I stopped playing totally for 35 years. Started again banging balls around and found I was really enjoying the game. Got into a couple of leages improved, but nothing like my old game. I got talked into playing a local event, with some solid named players in it. Not 2 and out, I did win 1 match, but the improvement of my game was noticable. I think it is well worth it.
