So...my son had locked up MVP for his skill level (3, 4, 5 and this is his first session) with a 71.82% PA (he got 71.82% of the available points) and I was leading my group (7, 8, 9) at 70% (next closest was 60% so I doubt he would've caught me anyways) but needed one match to qualify. Since I have decided to stay on as a sub and would be able to play in the MVP tournament I chose to play last night and I locked it up for my skill level.
Pretty cool to be part of a father/son MVP pair
I'm going to preface this with the fact I have been completely out of stroke for 3 months now so what happened last night was awesome as I finally found my game and it all came together and I won 75-13 and had a rack less night (in 9B), he didn't have a chance. Point being - I'm bragging a bit but only because I've had my ass handed to me for 3 months outside of APA.
Yes, he's a 4, but before covid he was a 5 so I know if he saw an open table and was in stroke he could get some points, he may not run it but I wasn't giving him any chances to slop anything in and I went into full tournament mode. I don't look at the numbers when playing so I can't confirm this but I'm pretty sure at one point I took 3 straight racks without him getting a point. His racking was all over the place so my breaks were not consistent and I only made a ball on the break 2 or 3 times and never made a 9B or had a run (kept getting clusters so kept playing safe - I'm guessing I played 10+ safes), but I did make a ridiculous full length 1-9 combo, think CB 10" off rail near center table - a foot back from the head spot, 1B was about 1 diamond past the side pocket and the 9B was a foot out of the far corner pocket. There really wasn't any other option but to shoot the 9 or play safe - so I did both. As I got down on the ball I saw a cluster of balls to my left and realized if I draw it straight back (there was a very slight angle - less than 5 degrees) I could come off the bottom rail and park it behind that cluster. I focused on the shot, put a good stroke on it and nailed the 9 center pocket, then watched the 1B take off after it and it went straight in the pocket, the CB came back 2/3's the table (7' table), came off the end rail and legitimately locked up on the back side of the four ball. It was magical. The SL8 on my team, who was scoring just looked at me and said - wow. That is how my night went all night long.
As much stress and irritation this session put on me I have to admit, it was my best performing session yet, that I know of, and we're headed to playoff's. I went 5 for 6, ended with 83% win rate, I took over 70% of the attempted points, I had two mini-slams (9OS and a B&R in the same match), I had three rack less nights (I think all three were in the same session, I will have to go check), we're headed to play-offs and me and my son took MVP for skill levels.
I had a smile on face all the way to work