Can you confrm what DTL said about the training? Are there any top pros over there who are not a part of the group that goes international... similar to how Kevin Cheng doesnt seem to be a part of that group.
Do you have any more insight on how the group that travels together trains? More details as to what they are doing? Drills what?
Thanks.
From what I heard and saw this July, players do gather at a local pool hall before this asian tournament to practice. However, they basically play against each other for 9/10 ball, or something called 235 (A different kind of carom, I think it's only being played in taiwan). By the way, they train on tight pockets (
https://youtu.be/kFpgEIXdhmY?t=6m48s)
These pros come from different places, for example, Ko brothers, Wu (Yup he's taiwanese) and Chang Jung Lin attended the same high school, but other players attend other schools.
Hence they don't train together, except for those training sessions before major tournament (I think this is what DTL was referring to). We do have coaches for those training sessions, and that's all I know.
And yes, Kevin Cheng wasn't with the group, he came by himself and kicked everyone's ass lol. I think everyone else are with the group though.
It's just sad that our pool talent is being ignored by our government... Kevin Cheng actually posted on his facebook page in Sept saying he needed to think about his career...since there are no tournaments in Taiwan for him to play, and playing abroad is really like gambling...imagine how much he has to pay for this trip to the US if he got knocked out in 2nd round of US Open?