IPTers prevail in 9 ball tourney

[rackmsuckr]

My husband, Mike Zimmerman and I attended a 9ball bar box (8') open tournament this weekend. Stan Tournageau was also there. There were 78 players. I drew a tough player out of the gate and lost my first match. I then kept winning until I got to the match before the money.

Now an interesting question came up...would I lose on purpose to the guy I was to play and take High Woman for $50 or would I try to win when I was facing a really tough player once I got in the money, therefore probably ending my run and ending up with $40 for 13-16th?

Well of course, I said I just want to compete. That's what I came here for and I won that match 7-2 (went til 3:30 in the morning, other matches lasted until 4:30am), got in the money, then I did lose to the good A player, 7-4, after being down 4-0. The last game, he had me on 2 fouls 3 times and I was able to escape every time by kicking or jumping. In the end, there was no shot on the 7, so I tried a carom on the 9 and scratched behind it.

The remaining 4 women got the chance to play off for High Woman (they were all out in 2). It didn't really feel right that I was really the highest woman and made less than they did, but there are many that debate the merits of having high woman at all and please, I don't want to make this about that. I tried hard and got as far as I could for a weekend warrior. I also would have had a chance to make another $100 as the highest B player out of the money, so I actually could have made $150 instead of $40. But to me, it's not about the money but to try to get some practice in, and compete whenever I can.

My husband and Stan split first and 2nd place, making it an all IPT win!

 

[Jimmy M.]

My husband and Stan split first and 2nd place, making it an all IPT win!

There was a time when I used to split with a friend of mine and, also, I would be fine splitting whenever I met up with friends in the finals. However, especially if the tournament is of any significance at all, I've come to believe that splitting is not good for the game at all ... for a number of reasons. On a much larger scale, I doubt it would go over very well if Tiger and Ernie (as an example) got into a play-off and declared, "forget it. we're splitting.". I even have reservations, to a certain degree, about splitting "behind the scenes". What I mean is, the two finalists are splitting, but they still play the match. While that's infinitely better than just splitting and denying everyone the climax of the tournament, I wonder if the quality of play is compromised in that situation.

For a more selfish reason behind not wanting to split in the finals, I view it as an opportunity to play under conditions that you aren't always in. Even the best players in the world aren't in the finals in even 1/4 of the tournaments they play in. So, when you do make it to the finals, it's an experience worth having that can only help you, as a player, in the long run. There are those rare people who seem impervious to pressure but, for the rest of us mortals, confidence and the ability to play under pressure comes from those experiences playing in pressure situations. The problem is that there hasn't been much money in pool tournaments so, some times, an extra few hundred dollars, guaranteed, seems more practical than "experience".

 

[Getnbzy]

There was a time when I used to split with a friend of mine and, also, I would be fine splitting whenever I met up with friends in the finals. However, especially if the tournament is of any significance at all, I've come to believe that splitting is not good for the game at all ... for a number of reasons. On a much larger scale, I doubt it would go over very well if Tiger and Ernie (as an example) got into a play-off and declared, "forget it. we're splitting.". I even have reservations, to a certain degree, about splitting "behind the scenes". What I mean is, the two finalists are splitting, but they still play the match. While that's infinitely better than just splitting and denying everyone the climax of the tournament, I wonder if the quality of play is compromised in that situation.

For a more selfish reason behind not wanting to split in the finals, I view it as an opportunity to play under conditions that you aren't always in. Even the best players in the world aren't in the finals in even 1/4 of the tournaments they play in. So, when you do make it to the finals, it's an experience worth having that can only help you, as a player, in the long run. There are those rare people who seem impervious to pressure but, for the rest of us mortals, confidence and the ability to play under pressure comes from those experiences playing in pressure situations. The problem is that there hasn't been much money in pool tournaments so, some times, an extra few hundred dollars, guaranteed, seems more practical than "experience".

Would your friend you used to split with have two first names? Anyways good job this past weekend at Alexander's Jimmy. Especially with that field.

 

[BillYards]

How did they justify not giving you the highest woman money? That is a silly situation! You got ripped! It doesn't matter if you make it to the money or not! Right?

 

[Purdman]

There was a time when I used to split with a friend of mine and, also, I would be fine splitting whenever I met up with friends in the finals. However, especially if the tournament is of any significance at all, I've come to believe that splitting is not good for the game at all ... for a number of reasons. On a much larger scale, I doubt it would go over very well if Tiger and Ernie (as an example) got into a play-off and declared, "forget it. we're splitting.". I even have reservations, to a certain degree, about splitting "behind the scenes". What I mean is, the two finalists are splitting, but they still play the match. While that's infinitely better than just splitting and denying everyone the climax of the tournament, I wonder if the quality of play is compromised in that situation.

For a more selfish reason behind not wanting to split in the finals, I view it as an opportunity to play under conditions that you aren't always in. Even the best players in the world aren't in the finals in even 1/4 of the tournaments they play in. So, when you do make it to the finals, it's an experience worth having that can only help you, as a player, in the long run. There are those rare people who seem impervious to pressure but, for the rest of us mortals, confidence and the ability to play under pressure comes from those experiences playing in pressure situations. The problem is that there hasn't been much money in pool tournaments so, some times, an extra few hundred dollars, guaranteed, seems more practical than "experience".

Don't worry about it Jimmy. She will justify it shortly.
I, for the life of me, can't understand why someone would hang around and play until 3:30 am to win $40 shortly after they posted that they closed a $35,000 deal a couple of days ago, and is such a "high powered business woman". Go figure.
Don

 

[Jimmy M.]

Would your friend you used to split with have two first names? Anyways good job this past weekend at Alexander's Jimmy. Especially with that field.

Yep. That would be the one.

Thanks.

 

[UWPoolGod1]

Nice job Linda! Where was the tourney held up there? Or was this the one at Island Casino in Longview?

I went to the ACS 9ball regional at Seven Feathers and got 5th in the Open division out of 51 players. Kinda a bad turnout. There were only 10 Masters and I am pretty sure Atwell was running through them. I was thinking of stopping by Island to play in that one as well on Saturday but I went to Seattle instead. Going to watch the Seahawks in person trounce Carolina was way more important. What a great game to watch in person.

 

[rackmsuckr]

Don't worry about it Jimmy. She will justify it shortly.
I, for the life of me, can't understand why someone would hang around and play until 3:30 am to win $40 shortly after they posted that they closed a $35,000 deal a couple of days ago, and is such a "high powered business woman". Go figure.
Don

Hi Don,

I wasn't there to necessarily win money, although any money I win is a nice bonus. The money is incidental. I want to play! I like testing my mettle against the guys. Known for my notoriously bad draws in any tournament, whenever I can excel, it is good for me to compete and try to overcome the serious competition.

Once, I lost early in a Friday night tournament with over 50 players and was just playing awful. Then I won a few matches and pretty soon, I was in the groove, and really playing well, winning match after match, until I finally reached the match for 3rd place. All the guys wanted to split it 3 ways and get out of there because the big tournament was happening that weekend and they wanted to go home and rest. It was like midnight or 1 am. I said no, I wanted to play for it...not for the money, but for the placing. Well, I faltered a bit and lost, so I took 3rd anyway. That is why I don't necessarily agree with my husband about splitting, but he makes his own money decisions.

Don, it seems that any time you do have a 6-figure job, it is hard to get out of it. Sometimes, I would like to be one of those players who do nothing but play pool all day and night. Maybe some day I will be. But I have always had to support my kids more or less alone, so I gotta wear the power suits and talk to CEO's and doctors, and grind it out.

I made $14,000 in one deal last week, yes (not $35,000). But I made $2M for the company. If first place is only $1000 in these regional tournaments (or less) why would I ever play in a tournament? Shoot, half the time I go to a women's regional tour and you have to come in 3rd place or better just to break even, with travel costs.

Yet the money I earn playing pool rivals any I win in a business deal, because it is still snatching victory from the competition...that I went head to head and came out winning something on my own merits. I'm not sure I can make you understand that feeling, but I do treasure each and every pool win because as much as I get to the table, it is a rarity. And that is why you are going to see me try and go on and place higher, instead of settling for High Woman, no matter what the money was.

 

[Tbeaux]

Hi Don,

I wasn't there to necessarily win money, although any money I win is a nice bonus. The money is incidental. I want to play! I like testing my mettle against the guys. Known for my notoriously bad draws in any tournament, whenever I can excel, it is good for me to compete and try to overcome the serious competition.

Once, I lost early in a Friday night tournament with over 50 players and was just playing awful. Then I won a few matches and pretty soon, I was in the groove, and really playing well, winning match after match, until I finally reached the match for 3rd place. All the guys wanted to split it 3 ways and get out of there because the big tournament was happening that weekend and they wanted to go home and rest. It was like midnight or 1 am. I said no, I wanted to play for it...not for the money, but for the placing. Well, I faltered a bit and lost, so I took 3rd anyway. That is why I don't necessarily agree with my husband about splitting, but he makes his own money decisions.

Don, it seems that any time you do have a 6-figure job, it is hard to get out of it. Sometimes, I would like to be one of those players who do nothing but play pool all day and night. Maybe some day I will be. But I have always had to support my kids more or less alone, so I gotta wear the power suits and talk to CEO's and doctors, and grind it out.

I made $14,000 in one deal last week, yes (not $35,000). But I made $2M for the company. Yet the money I earn playing pool rivals any I win in a business deal, because it is still snatching victory from the competition...that I went head to head and came out winning something on my own merits. I'm not sure I can make you understand that feeling, but I do treasure each and every pool win because as much as I get to the table, it is a rarity.

Wheew, thank god you made this second post Linda. After reading the first one I wasn't sure if I should say congrats or too bad .

So I'll say (type for all u smartalecks) Congratulations Linda .

Terry

 

[rackmsuckr]

Nice job Linda! Where was the tourney held up there? Or was this the one at Island Casino in Longview?

I went to the ACS 9ball regional at Seven Feathers and got 5th in the Open division out of 51 players. Kinda a bad turnout. There were only 10 Masters and I am pretty sure Atwell was running through them. I was thinking of stopping by Island to play in that one as well on Saturday but I went to Seattle instead. Going to watch the Seahawks in person trounce Carolina was way more important. What a great game to watch in person.

Yes, it was the Cadillac Island Casino. I thought ACS had way better payouts than BCA, but maybe participation is waning.

Congrats on placing 5th!! That is just great. And what a game that was watching the Seahawks. Washington is ecstatic! Hope to see you at some other tournaments. The next couple months are packed!

 

[rackmsuckr]

How did they justify not giving you the highest woman money? That is a silly situation! You got ripped! It doesn't matter if you make it to the money or not! Right?

Well, the designation of High Woman is actually, High Woman out of the money. Once you place in the money, then you are considered a player, which suits me just fine. The discrepancy was making HW more than last place money. It was only $10 and I was not gonna argue, and I was glad it gave some of the other women a reason to come back on Sunday and play off for it and defray some of their expenses. It also helped the casino by getting them back there on Sunday to spend more money. So it was a win-win-win situation.

 

[iacas]

On a much larger scale, I doubt it would go over very well if Tiger and Ernie (as an example) got into a play-off and declared, "forget it. we're splitting.". I even have reservations, to a certain degree, about splitting "behind the scenes". What I mean is, the two finalists are splitting, but they still play the match.

IIRC, a bunch of Senior Tour players (when it was still called that) were heavily fined for basically agreeing to split the pots. They don't have a cut, so they'd just agree before the tournament even started to split whatever they earned. 10-15 players, IIRC, were fined. It's against the bylaws of the PGA (and other) Tour(s) for exactly the reasons stated: it compromises the integrity of the game and the level of play produced.