FINAL 6 Gladiators - Predications?

TheOne

TheOne

www.MetroPool.club
Silver Member
With just 3 Americans left, 1 in each group I'm afraid my prediction of no americans in the final 6 may come true :(

The filipinos have done amazing giving the relatively few entrants, 7 of the little blighters still left! (and yes that pesky Efren is defying his years). Add to that 3 super strong European players in Souqet, Hohman, Chamet, and my dark hourse the Russian. Then we have the Brits, 3 of them and my other dark hourse the wild Snooker convert Mr hahn. Take your pick, its almost too hard to call but I'm going for these:

Q. Hann
D. Appleton
R. Souquet
F. Bustamante
A. Pagulayan
M. Manalo


With only 2 PLAYERS advancing from each group and so little to chose between the players left I really beleive this is where the break and fitness will make the difference. The % of each player of course will be HUGE as there are bound to be tie breakers in all 3 groups.
 
Still trying to prove your youth stamina theory ey?LOL Don't you know that $350,000 takes away a lot of years from Efren's aged body?
 
bandido said:
Still trying to prove your youth stamina theory ey?LOL Don't you know that $350,000 takes away a lot of years from Efren's aged body?
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He he, not really, it sure was tough to not pick Efren. But if you look at the draw there's not many old big guys left, I doubt many will make it to the final 6. I would actually love to see Efren win it, but I liked 4 players in his group.

Stalev has a monster break is young and fit and plays for big cash on tight pockets.

Appleton has probably the best 8 ball knowledge in the comp, he's been in two world 8 ball finals and also plays for big money on tight tables.

Hahn the snooker player AND ex 8 ball world champion, played on TV under pressure for many years and obviously loves the tight pockets - havent seen his break but assume its good.

Then we have 4 times 8 ball world champion, the god and magician himself - too hard to pick but I forced myself lol!

I don't know much about Nevel so sorry and I don't think Luat has a prayer in this group
 
TheOne said:
He he, not really, it sure was tough to not pick Efren. But if you look at the draw there's not many old big guys left, I doubt many will make it to the final 6. I would actually love to see Efren win it, but I liked 4 players in his group.
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LOL Let's go through your reasons for picking these guys.

TheOne said:
Stalev has a monster break is young and fit and plays for big cash on tight pockets.
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Efren has been playing big money games even before Stalev was born. So that's not a plus for Stalev.

TheOne said:
Appleton has probably the best 8 ball knowledge in the comp, he's been in two world 8 ball finals and also plays for big money on tight tables.
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8Ball finals? Efren is 2-time World 8-Ball Champion plus the KOTH. So again not a good reason for Appleton as an advantage.

TheOne said:
Hahn the snooker player AND ex 8 ball world champion, played on TV under pressure for many years and obviously loves the tight pockets - havent seen his break but assume its good.
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Didn't I read somewhere that Efren beat a snooker player in snooker? Hann's better do better since that 1-8 hosing that he got from Busty!

TheOne said:
Then we have 4 times 8 ball world champion, the god and magician himself - too hard to pick but I forced myself lol!

I don't know much about Nevel so sorry and I don't think Luat has a prayer in this group
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Both of these guys have a legitimate chance too as with everybody. Efren has an advantage as he's been the only one who has reached big money finals and won. Great going for Gramps ey? I think you have better chances than these guys Craig! You game him a hard time the last time!
 
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We'll have to agree to disagree lol BUT I'm torn, I want Efren to win it, but its just too hard to call. If he had been in another group I would have put him through lol but Appleton, Hahn, and Stalev are my dark hourses so I had to stick with them! :)

Yeah I'm sure I could lol :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Simple Answers

I think Nevel's powerful stroke will allow him to win matches.
Stalev will also play solid as I have read the last few days.

Souquet and Orcollo will win matches and they have good percentages and play very well to keep up their percentages if there are tiebreakers which I believe there will be.

Manalo has been dominating until this recent round. I suspect he will pick it up. Also has a high percentage. Alex will edge out Hohmann with percentage. Alex also has a heart of a champion. I've seen him play. Just too impressive.

These are my bold predictions.
 
My Top 6

My original top 4 is still in the competition...

Reyes
Orcollo
Pagulayan
Alcano

and now I must add...

Souquet
Bustamante


Souquet will be the last European standing, he is very dangerous...
 
Efren - Ralf - Manalo

I can't see those three not finishing 1 or 2 in their groups.

2nd player is just too hard to pick. Just a WAG.

Sure is a great group of players.

Jake
 
Ooppss my bad...

I can't pick Souquet, Busta, Alcano and Orcullo... they are playing in the same bracket in Round 5..

So here are my final 6

Reyes
Pagulayan
Alcano
Souquet
Bustamante
Manalo

*** I pick Alcano over Orcollo, I'm not really sure why... just a hunch...
 
#79
Efren Reyes
Evgeny Stalev

#80
Dennis Orcollo
Daryl Peach

#81
Marlon Manalo
Marcus Chamat

It was hard to resist not making that emotional pick but I don't think any of the remaining American players have the horse power to reach the finish line...
 
Wrong again....

@$#$#@...

Just checked the IPT website... only two players will advance from Group 5 to Group 6 that means I can't pick Souquet, Alcano and Bustamante at the same time... d@#m... :-)

ok here's my Final Final 6...

Reyes, Hann (why not...)

Busta, Alcano (I must be on crack dropping Souquet here, but I'm GO PHILIPPINES mode right now....)

Manalo, Pagulayan

*** What a Great Tournament...
 
bandido said:
TheOne said:
Appleton has probably the best 8 ball knowledge in the comp, he's been in two world 8 ball finals and also plays for big money on tight tables.
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8Ball finals? Efren is 2-time World 8-Ball Champion plus the KOTH. So again not a good reason for Appleton as an advantage.
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When Craig mentions 2 World 8-Ball finals, we're talking one super-tight tables that are most prominent here in the UK. Appleton is one to seriously watch out for in this event.

Oh, and Efren's got 3 World 8-Ball titles to his name (1995, 1996 and 2004).

Anyhow, having had a wee look at the groups, my predictions are:-

Reyes
Appleton
Bustamente
Peach
Manalo
Hohmann​

The one thing that baffles me is, having looked at the table schedule for today, Efren still isn't on the TV table! In my opinion, the best match on there would have been him against Appleton - 2 of the best 8-Ball players on the planet who learned on totally different equipment (Efren on the American style tables and Appleton on the tight UK 8-Ball tables). Maybe they're keeping it for when they both reach Sunday's final.
 
My hopes...Picks are as follows

79: Stalev and Nevel
80: Bustamante and Matlock
81: Manalo and Pagulayan
 
Who's on TV table? I believe that Eurosport is only broadcasting Euro players. I have noticed that for the past nights. 3 Consecutive nights of Ronnie. Time slots are always different.
 
Reyes and Stalev.
Bustamante and Souquet.
Manalo and Pagulayan.

Tough choice, but i go for Bustamante to beat Manalo in the final match.
 
Reyes, Stalev
Orcollo, Souquet
Pagulayan, Hohmann

Reyes-Pagulayan for the Finals, Efren takes the cheese.
 
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TheOne said:
Q. Hann
D. Appleton
R. Souquet
F. Bustamante
A. Pagulayan
M. Manalo
.
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It's funny. When I was at the Orlando IPT, I didn't think Efren was going to last, and it looked like he squeaking by. Then, suddenly, when the cash was close, he turned it up like... well, like Efren!!!

That being said, I like your choices.

Bustamante and Manalo simply over power 8-ball. Neither really finesses the patterns. They just make everything. I assume Alex is doing the same thing.

Souquet must play some tremendous patterns, considering how many 8-ball Euro titles he has, and the fact that he says he likes 8-ball the best.

I saw Appleton play nearly perfect 8-ball at the BCA Grand Masters. Have you seen both Hann and Appleton play American 8-ball? Which one is better?

Fred
 
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