Gene wins '15 Summer Open 8 Ball In Kato
- Thread starter MN Kid
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How many players signed up for this event? Nice win for Geno beating a top player like Demi 2x is tough!
How many players signed up for this event? Nice win for Geno beating a top player like Demi 2x is tough!
Hey Marc. Demetrius here.
Pretty small turn out. The one pocket didn't go down at all on Friday night. There were 9 for the 8 ball so we did a side pot instead of a calcutta.
Gene played extremely well all the matches I saw. He dropped a set early to Josh Raines (the proprietor) but regrouped and came back through, not really letting anyone get past 4 the remainder of the sets (races to 8).
The conditions were very tough. Tight pockets, cloth wasn't slow and worn, but it wasn't new and slidy either, so the balls wouldn't go in unless hit well. Not only did this lead to some unexpected misses, it also put a lot of pressure on position play because you really couldn't cheat the pockets and were very limited to what you could do with the cueball. So when you combine tough pockets and less flexibility with the cue ball the game got exponentially more difficult. I can tell you that there were less table runs and more fumbles than I've seen before, but it wasn't because we were playing bad, it was really the most gritty 8 ball I've played in quite a while.
All through this Geno was rock solid. I watched a few matches of his and it seemed that he was getting through tough racks with outstanding pattern play and minimal cueball movement. He is striking the balls very accurately and could take what the table gave him with confidence, often accepting some shots that I might not have but then putting them down. Instead me and his other opponents were probably trying to do too much. It seemed that we were the ones shooting the hard shots and desperation plays, and on the rare occasion he was in that spot he stole a remarkable number with some great shots anyway.
He beat me 8-4, 8-4. The sets were maybe a little closer than that sounds because the first set was 6-4 at one point, the second set was 4-4 until he shut me down. And with winner breaks it wasn't over until the end. That said, the lead meant more due to the tough conditions. My saying it was a tough battle is not defending my play, actually a compliment to Gene. He came with some great shots that, had he missed, would've made it a real horse race. And his play was overall just more consistent, I was up against it all night.
But I had a ton of fun. I love to battle, and that was a battle. I'm glad he's in the twin cities area now and look forward to many more fights. I'm not sure the outcome of our next shootout will be any different, but it's a pleasure to have the chance to find out!
Great write up, you sound like a classy guy. Good shooting to both!
Tin Man you just ran out on this post. Thanks for such a well written analysis of Gene's and your match.
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I was going to say something nice about Demi and his writeup etc. And then I scrolled down and saw all this gushing stuff. So I changed my mind.
Demi's just another chump pool player like the rest of us...
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I assume since Demi and Geno are likely in the area you will be taking them both down tomorrow? No???? Didn't think so... There are "chumps on AZ ALL the time.. In this instance I would direct you to the nearest mirror.. Unless you really want to jump.... I did say jump... not post about it...
Easy tiger, pretty sure it was a good hearted joke.
You probably shouldn't post so late in the night....or is it too early in the morning?
I think genes 5yr plan and old balls in his mouth tend to cloud his judgement at times
Here are the recorded match videos on Kato Cue Clubs Ustream channel http://www.ustream.tv/search?q=katocueclub
Kato Cue Club, What a great place to play pool and hang out...
Josh has went all out when setting this place up. I think there are 3 9' diamonds and 10 to 12 pro cut 7' diamonds.
I was pleasantly surprised but then again not because I had heard so many good things already.
The small turnout can be attributed to the weather. It was hot but a nice breeze outside. In the pool room it was a little warm and humid making the tables play especially tough. If a ball so much as touched the rail on the way to the hole it was going to hang.
There are bleachers set up with the 9' diamond in front and the bar tables off to both sides.
The kitchen is upstairs with some pretty good food. I had a Burger and it hit the spot Perfectly.
What more could you ask for in a tournament. It's all there.
Thanks Josh for providing one of the nicest pool rooms around. If I lived in Mankato I would be there all the time. A pool players paradise.
Getting to the playing, it was tough. The races to 8 were pretty grueling Most matches were 13 to 14 games. This can take a toll on a players stamina no matter what age your at. I'm at 62 this July 18th and feeling every year right now in my life. I knew this would be tough to finish with a bang if I even got to the finish.
I lost my second match to Josh, the owner of Kato Cue Club. He shot well and deserved to win. I was just hoping to get another crack at him later. Even though the turn out was small the talent was not.
Playing back to back matches on the losers side was one way to get in a rhythm or stroke but for me it was a matter of stamina. Many of the younger players wouldn't and couldn't even imagine what a 62 years old player goes through especially one that has had 3 major surgeries in the last year, with a new left knee replacement coming in the very near future.
I played Darrin, Morgan and Matt. Winning and playing pretty good. Now I had to play Josh again.
The fact that Josh is playing in his own place seemed to kind of slow him down a little. He missed a few shots that he wouldn't have missed earlier allowing me to get to the finish line first.
Now I had to face Demi, one of the toughest players in the Twin Cities area. There is no one here that wants to play this guy their first match of any tournament and if you do get to the end and have to play Demi you know you are in for a grind it out, drag down fight to the end for sure.
This is the guy that cracked the top 16 at the US Open a few years back. Everyone was saying, Who is this guy?
All of us in Minnesota knew already for sure. And after that US Open everyone knew the name for sure.
I figured I'd have an edge in the first set because Demi had been waiting for awhile. I was hoping to jump out ahead and I did.. I got the first set 8-4 but it could easily have been tied 6-6 with the difference being just a few hung up balls in those tough little pockets.
We started the second set and I knew this would be a battle for sure. Demi is one guy that is still going to be there running out if the chance arises.
I got ahead 4- 2 and was running out the next rack. My blood sugar was pretty low and my arm kind of cramped up as I stroked. My legs had been cramping up for about an hour already but fortunately you don't have to shoot with your legs.
I missed a ball that was fairly easy, if there was an easy shot on this table, and watched Demi run out the rack. He had to work around some tough balls but got it done in great fashion.
The next rack the same thing. Got a shot and almost didn't get the cue ball to the object ball. Demi again worked around my remaining balls and got out on a real tough rack.
That was it. I told Demi I had to go to the car and get a cookie. I'm kind of like Popeye with his spinach except my spinach is sugar, being diabetic needing some glucose in my system. I can get away with this when I'm doing something that takes allot of energy like playing pool all day long, not to mention who I'm playing. Eating cookies for energy.
I came back down tied 4-4. I don't quite remember what happened on each rack but I always felt like demi was one turn away from winning the match. Mainly because it was winner breaks. Your never out of it until it is over. And everyone knows that Demi is the guy that can get it done.
Finally it was over. 8-4. But I do remember this. Each game it seemed that I just sqweaked it out. One safe or one tough shot that got it done.
I feel very fortunate to have players of Demi's caliber here in the cities. This will not be the last battle for us for sure. And at 62 years old I feel very fortunate to be out there creating new memories instead of only talking about old old memories. I'm so lucky to still be out there swinging.
Thanks Demi. I won this battle but not the war. There will be many battles to come and I am looking forward to each and everyone of them as I know you are too.
Then the real battle began. My car broke down.
Just outside of Mankato I could only go about 40 miles per hour. Soon it was 30.
I made it as far as Shokopi and it was done. I called a wrecker and got towed the rest of the way. Finally I got home at around 1:00 PM on Sunday.
This will be one of the greatest pool memories of my life.
Great place to play, Kato Cue Club, toughest action I could ask for in a final match and the road teaching me one more lesson. Seems like the road always wins to a certain extent.
Buying a new car Thursday.
Got a pool lesson with 6 great young pool players in Elgin Mn Friday.
Already so much talent there from these young guns. I'm going to try and speed up their learning curve a little bit.
It don't get any better than this. Play in tournaments and then turn around and show these young guns how an old guy like me can still play.
It's called Perfect Aim. A manually positioning of the eyes so every single shot has the correct picture going to the brain.
It works for everyone. This is so much fun. I still feel like a kid. Just the outside is getting a little worn.
Thanks again Josh for having such a great place to play.
Josh has went all out when setting this place up. I think there are 3 9' diamonds and 10 to 12 pro cut 7' diamonds.
I was pleasantly surprised but then again not because I had heard so many good things already.
The small turnout can be attributed to the weather. It was hot but a nice breeze outside. In the pool room it was a little warm and humid making the tables play especially tough. If a ball so much as touched the rail on the way to the hole it was going to hang.
There are bleachers set up with the 9' diamond in front and the bar tables off to both sides.
The kitchen is upstairs with some pretty good food. I had a Burger and it hit the spot Perfectly.
What more could you ask for in a tournament. It's all there.
Thanks Josh for providing one of the nicest pool rooms around. If I lived in Mankato I would be there all the time. A pool players paradise.
Getting to the playing, it was tough. The races to 8 were pretty grueling Most matches were 13 to 14 games. This can take a toll on a players stamina no matter what age your at. I'm at 62 this July 18th and feeling every year right now in my life. I knew this would be tough to finish with a bang if I even got to the finish.
I lost my second match to Josh, the owner of Kato Cue Club. He shot well and deserved to win. I was just hoping to get another crack at him later. Even though the turn out was small the talent was not.
Playing back to back matches on the losers side was one way to get in a rhythm or stroke but for me it was a matter of stamina. Many of the younger players wouldn't and couldn't even imagine what a 62 years old player goes through especially one that has had 3 major surgeries in the last year, with a new left knee replacement coming in the very near future.
I played Darrin, Morgan and Matt. Winning and playing pretty good. Now I had to play Josh again.
The fact that Josh is playing in his own place seemed to kind of slow him down a little. He missed a few shots that he wouldn't have missed earlier allowing me to get to the finish line first.
Now I had to face Demi, one of the toughest players in the Twin Cities area. There is no one here that wants to play this guy their first match of any tournament and if you do get to the end and have to play Demi you know you are in for a grind it out, drag down fight to the end for sure.
This is the guy that cracked the top 16 at the US Open a few years back. Everyone was saying, Who is this guy?
All of us in Minnesota knew already for sure. And after that US Open everyone knew the name for sure.
I figured I'd have an edge in the first set because Demi had been waiting for awhile. I was hoping to jump out ahead and I did.. I got the first set 8-4 but it could easily have been tied 6-6 with the difference being just a few hung up balls in those tough little pockets.
We started the second set and I knew this would be a battle for sure. Demi is one guy that is still going to be there running out if the chance arises.
I got ahead 4- 2 and was running out the next rack. My blood sugar was pretty low and my arm kind of cramped up as I stroked. My legs had been cramping up for about an hour already but fortunately you don't have to shoot with your legs.
I missed a ball that was fairly easy, if there was an easy shot on this table, and watched Demi run out the rack. He had to work around some tough balls but got it done in great fashion.
The next rack the same thing. Got a shot and almost didn't get the cue ball to the object ball. Demi again worked around my remaining balls and got out on a real tough rack.
That was it. I told Demi I had to go to the car and get a cookie. I'm kind of like Popeye with his spinach except my spinach is sugar, being diabetic needing some glucose in my system. I can get away with this when I'm doing something that takes allot of energy like playing pool all day long, not to mention who I'm playing. Eating cookies for energy.
I came back down tied 4-4. I don't quite remember what happened on each rack but I always felt like demi was one turn away from winning the match. Mainly because it was winner breaks. Your never out of it until it is over. And everyone knows that Demi is the guy that can get it done.
Finally it was over. 8-4. But I do remember this. Each game it seemed that I just sqweaked it out. One safe or one tough shot that got it done.
I feel very fortunate to have players of Demi's caliber here in the cities. This will not be the last battle for us for sure. And at 62 years old I feel very fortunate to be out there creating new memories instead of only talking about old old memories. I'm so lucky to still be out there swinging.
Thanks Demi. I won this battle but not the war. There will be many battles to come and I am looking forward to each and everyone of them as I know you are too.
Then the real battle began. My car broke down.
Just outside of Mankato I could only go about 40 miles per hour. Soon it was 30.
I made it as far as Shokopi and it was done. I called a wrecker and got towed the rest of the way. Finally I got home at around 1:00 PM on Sunday.
This will be one of the greatest pool memories of my life.
Great place to play, Kato Cue Club, toughest action I could ask for in a final match and the road teaching me one more lesson. Seems like the road always wins to a certain extent.
Buying a new car Thursday.
Got a pool lesson with 6 great young pool players in Elgin Mn Friday.
Already so much talent there from these young guns. I'm going to try and speed up their learning curve a little bit.
It don't get any better than this. Play in tournaments and then turn around and show these young guns how an old guy like me can still play.
It's called Perfect Aim. A manually positioning of the eyes so every single shot has the correct picture going to the brain.
It works for everyone. This is so much fun. I still feel like a kid. Just the outside is getting a little worn.
Thanks again Josh for having such a great place to play.
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