evgeny stalev

[Slh]

Hi
I have seen many video of russian piramid and I like a lot of the style of game of evgeny stalev. His stroke is not very usual, but I finds him an exciting player to see. I know that it also plays pool, but unfortunately I have not seen many his video. Is a good pool player? Some story about him?
Thank you

 

[GMAC]

Stalev

Hi
I have seen many video of russian piramid and I like a lot of the style of game of evgeny stalev. His stroke is not very usual, but I finds him an exciting player to see. I know that it also plays pool, but unfortunately I have not seen many his video. Is a good pool player? Some story about him?
Thank you

Stalev, is a stone killer on the pool table. He comes to NYC every once in awhile to visit Steve the Russian a friend of his. I saw him play a few times and he plays at a very high pro speed level. He is very flashy and nothing is easy but he just doesnt miss much and his stroke his unreal.

He came a couple of years ago and Skyline Billiards was hosting a blaze tour stop and he didnt even warm up. He was learning how to play holdem at the time and he would just sit at the computer playing pokestars until his matched was called and just get up and destroy his opponent and go back and play poker.

He breaks the balls so hard and squats the rock and just gets out from anywhere. He ended up winning the tournament (beating Warren Kiamco for the hotseat). He returned to Russia and started playing Holdem full time and has made some serious scores on online poker (I know its hard to believe but its true)

I think he is getting the pool bug again and may be headed for the states.

I also believe he matched up with Keith Mc Cready in one pocket at the US Open one year. I don't know what happened though.

 

[sfleinen]

Would love to see Evgeny Stalev stateside again

I agree wholeheartedly with GMAC. Evgeny is indeed a killer on the pool table. Very calm, cool, collected, almost like he's on the practice table, even with cameras rolling. This guy's got probably *the* most powerful break I've ever seen -- on par (or perhaps even more powerful than) Bustamante's, in my humble opinion. One of the most unique breaks, too. He uses virtually only his arm, somewhat sidearm fashion, but he winds it back and up, clockspring-style, and when he uncorks it, you'll hear a sound from the balls that you might never have heard before.

As for videos of Evgeny playing, how about a video of him playing Warren Kiamco in the U.S. Open 9-ball (Chesapeake, VA) several years ago?

Here's the link to the full match video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PkCG3q2PDa4

At about 9:20 in the video, you'll see the first of Evgeny's powerful breaks. Danny DiLiberto and Jim Wych provide commentary, and both say good things about Evgeny's game.

I would personally like to see him Stateside once again, as I'd welcome the opportunity to watch him play in person -- especially since he has connections right here in the NY area.

-Sean

Stalev, is a stone killer on the pool table. He comes to NYC every once in awhile to visit Steve the Russian a friend of his. I saw him play a few times and he plays at a very high pro speed level. He is very flashy and nothing is easy but he just doesnt miss much and his stroke his unreal.

He came a couple of years ago and Skyline Billiards was hosting a blaze tour stop and he didnt even warm up. He was learning how to play holdem at the time and he would just sit at the computer playing pokestars until his matched was called and just get up and destroy his opponent and go back and play poker.

He breaks the balls so hard and squats the rock and just gets out from anywhere. He ended up winning the tournament (beating Warren Kiamco for the hotseat). He returned to Russia and started playing Holdem full time and has made some serious scores on online poker (I know its hard to believe but its true)

I think he is getting the pool bug again and may be headed for the states.

I also believe he matched up with Keith Mc Cready in one pocket at the US Open one year. I don't know what happened though.

 

[Terry Ardeno]

Here's a link to some great Stalev matches on Accu-Stats.
http://www.accu-stats.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi


Also, I always liked his cue. If you want more info on him, do a search here at AZB. Lot's of good stuff on him.


***The link is not working...here's a paste....

SEARCH RESULTS


Item Description Price
Evgeny Stalev vs. Charlie Williams* D3-9B5:* Evgeny Stalev (.918) defeats Charlie Williams (.917) 7-6 $19.95
Evegeny Stalev vs. Jim Rempe 269b-09: Evgeny Stalev (.867) def. Jim Rempe (.786) 11-9 $19.95
Jose Parica vs. Evgeny Stalev* D4-1P1*: Jose Parica def. Evgeny Stalev 3-2 $19.95
Joyner/Stalev & Joyner Matlock D4-1P2: Cliff Joyner def. Evgeny Stalev 3-1 and Cliff Joyner def. David Matlock 3-1 $19.95
Morris/Stalev & Souquet/McCready* D4-9B1*: Rodney Morris (.930)def. Evgeny Stalev (.667) 7-0 & Ralf Souquet (.940) def. Keith McCready (.896) 7-3 $19.95
Kim Davenport vs. Evgeny Stalev* 279b-02* Kim Davenport (.848) defeats Evgeny Stalev (.818) 11-9 $19.95
Evgeny Stalev vs. Warren Kiamco (DVD) 309B-03D Evgeny Stalev (.857) defeats Warren Kiamco (.889) 11-9 $19.95

 

[Rodney]

I watched him in Valley Forge 2 yrs. ago, and when he shot, it seemed effortless. He steam rolled Frankie Hernandez in about 2 innings, and just got out from everywhere. Unfortunately he missed a couple balls against Archer next round, and lost. Stalev is definately fun to watch.

 

[JAM]

Here is a copy-and-paste of a post I wrote right after the 2005 U.S. Open about "The Russian," as we fondly call him:

The first night of the Open, I was thrilled to see Evgeny Stalev, and so was Keith. We sat with him for a spell and exchanged a few pleasantries AND caught up on pool smut.

When I asked Evgeny about what cue stick he was playing with, he pulled out this striped piece of wood. He told me it weighed in at 28, which I found unbelievable. I picked up the cue myself, and though it was a heavy cue, I thought it was not 28 ounces. However, it was most definitely over 21 ounces. Keith plays with a 21-ounce cue, and The Russian's was heavier than Keith's cue.

Evgeny told me that he did suffer a little from the time difference between Russia and the United States at this year's Open. He said next year, he will arrive one week earlier to get his body acclimated for competition. I think he told me he was heading back home to Russia after the Open, but he will be back for the Derby City Classic. He is 26 years old now, and though he has won a Russian Billiards championship title four times in a row when he was 18 and 19 years of age, I think his 9-ball game is GREAT. His best game is that Russian Billiards, which I don't understand one iota, but he is learning to play all games and has excelled in 9-ball. He banks balls better than most, too!

Picture of one of my faves, "The Russian," proudly holding his Russian-made cue stick!

 

[JAM]

Here's another shot of an American player and Evgeny Stalev in 2005 at the Open. :smile:

 

[JAM]

Here's a story I wrote about the Russian playing the late Larry Lisciotti in 2002:

The first time I ran into him was up at a Joss tournament in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, in 2002. He told me that he was the Russian champion for 5 years in a row, and at that time, if memory serves me correct, he was only in his early twenties, married with two kids.

He mentioned that $1,000 goes much further in his home country than it does in the U.S., and he was a very action friendly player, never afraid to step up to the plate.

So, when he propositioned my road partner in Chelmsford in 2002 to play an ahead-set of banks EVEN for a couple dimes, I was shaking in my boots. The pool room in Chelmsford is huge with two rooms. So, while the Joss tournament was in progress in one room, my road partner and The Russian played this action match in the other playing area. The 5-ahead set seesawed back and forth, and this kid can bank balls with precision.

My road partner ended up beating him, but it took several hours, as I recall. I remember Earl Strickland came over to watch them play after he finished his tournament match and made himself comfortable on a stool in the back area unnoticed. A few times when my road partner made a good bank, Earl would chant in the background, "Eeeeeether," which made my road partner grin from ear to ear hearing his moniker from yesteryear.

The late Larry Lisciotti was there, too. He ended up playing The Russian a little one-hole, but came up a little short that day. Larry was cutting up with Evgeny during the match, but it didn't phase this kid because he couldn't understand English very well at that time. He did understand ACTION, though, and I was impresssed with his shooting capabilities at such a very young age.

 

[BayGene]

Love Stalev's cue. He told me it was made by Alexander Efremov and that are lots of Russian cues made with shaft splices like the Brunswick 360s of the 1920s. Sterling makes a butterfly splice cue. I bought one after seeing Stalev's, modified it with a new ferrule, Moori tip, and carom-style butt sleeve, and have been playing with it happily for years. I did note, by the way, that Stalev breaks with his playing cue!

 

[Black-Balled]

He looks uninterested when he plays, but I've only seen him in tourneys. There was a Russian guy around here that claimed to be an acquaintance w/ phone#...he told me that Stalev's interest kicks in at about $500/ rack.

 

[SCCues]

Here's a story I wrote about the Russian playing the late Larry Lisciotti in 2002:

The first time I ran into him was up at a Joss tournament in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, in 2002. He told me that he was the Russian champion for 5 years in a row, and at that time, if memory serves me correct, he was only in his early twenties, married with two kids.

He mentioned that $1,000 goes much further in his home country than it does in the U.S., and he was a very action friendly player, never afraid to step up to the plate.

So, when he propositioned my road partner in Chelmsford in 2002 to play an ahead-set of banks EVEN for a couple dimes, I was shaking in my boots. The pool room in Chelmsford is huge with two rooms. So, while the Joss tournament was in progress in one room, my road partner and The Russian played this action match in the other playing area. The 5-ahead set seesawed back and forth, and this kid can bank balls with precision.

My road partner ended up beating him, but it took several hours, as I recall. I remember Earl Strickland came over to watch them play after he finished his tournament match and made himself comfortable on a stool in the back area unnoticed. A few times when my road partner made a good bank, Earl would chant in the background, "Eeeeeether," which made my road partner grin from ear to ear hearing his moniker from yesteryear.

The late Larry Lisciotti was there, too. He ended up playing The Russian a little one-hole, but came up a little short that day. Larry was cutting up with Evgeny during the match, but it didn't phase this kid because he couldn't understand English very well at that time. He did understand ACTION, though, and I was impresssed with his shooting capabilities at such a very young age.

Thanks for the story JAM. I've enjoyed watching your "Road Partner" and Stalev every chance i've had to see them play. Your "Road Partner" is one of the most entertaining and talented players i've seen and if he's playing i'll be on the rail watching anytime I get a chance.

James

 

[Andrew Manning]

He looks uninterested when he plays, but I've only seen him in tourneys. There was a Russian guy around here that claimed to be an acquaintance w/ phone#...he told me that Stalev's interest kicks in at about $500/ rack.

Who was the Russian guy around here who claimed to know him? Did he happen to go by "Dima", short for Dimitry? Just curious.

-Andrew

 

[Nostroke]

Ok -Not the most flattering story. It was probably 2002 or so and he was playing Bustamante 1P at QMasters during the Open and GIVING him a ball. Bustamante wins maybe 5 games in a row and Stalev turns to the Steve the Russian and says something to him in Russian

I said what did he say Steve? " "He says in Moscow, he eats guys like this for breakfast." He was serious. I didnt say anything but i thought to myself "There are no guys like this in Moscow". They adjusted after a while and Stalev started coming back. Unfortuately i left and got conflicting stories on who won that night.

 

[shinobi]

Ok -Not the most flattering story. It was probably 2002 or so and he was playing Bustamante 1P at QMasters during the Open and GIVING him a ball. Bustamante wins maybe 5 games in a row and Stalev turns to the Steve the Russian and says something to him in Russian

I said what did he say Steve? " "He says in Moscow, he eats guys like this for breakfast." He was serious. I didnt say anything but i thought to myself "There are no guys like this in Moscow". They adjusted after a while and Stalev started coming back. Unfortuately i left and got conflicting stories on who won that night.

Now, that's some serious confidence (and arrogance) when a total worldbeater like Bustamante doesn't phase him :grin:

I've watched quite a few Stalev matches and one thing about his stroke... very often he's just 1, 2, shoot. 1, 2, shoot. Quick rhythm. Fun to watch. And yes his break is powerful.

 

[pro9dg]

Eugeny is a monster player, he even looks a bit like Frankenstein. He is a super guy but I haven't seen him play since 2004 when he was one spot away from qualifying for that years WPC in Taipei.

His father who looks like a Russian version of Mike Tyson (he has no neck and his head seems to sit on his shoulders) won the Russian Pyramids Championship. He showed me how to play the game in Prague one time when he, Eugeny and his other son Max travelled there to play in an event.

The journey from Moscow took 26 hours on a train (including an 8 hour delay). So you can see why they are difficult to faze.

 

[senor]

Nostroke - I saw them playing in 2001 at Q Masters. How can you forget that year? The Tuesday of US Open week was Sept 11. I have not returned to the US Open since then, so I don't know if they matched up in subsequent years.

BayGene mentioned his carom sleeve. I thought that was the funniest thing. My partner and I were just as impressed with his game as everyone else when we first saw him. We called his carom sleeve a 'cue coozie.'

 

[turbo]

he is fearless. very entertaining too.

 

[gulfportdoc]

Eugeny is a monster player, he even looks a bit like Frankenstein.

I think he's a dead ringer for Obama. I suspect their politics are real similar too...

Doc