Bread N Butter
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Can any kid really play for the money? I have heard of a few but not many and do any bet real high?
Kid money players
- Thread starter Bread N Butter
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> I've been watching Shannon Daulton since he won the Lexington All-Star tournament in 1990,he was around 16 at the time. Players ages are often skewed or fudged on in magazine articles,so there is no telling how old he really was,but an older guy I started a conversation with said he was out on the road with his dad playing 9-ball against grown men,some of them pretty solid players for 300 a rack when he was 11. The very next time I saw Shannon at a tournament,I found out the older guy I had talked to in Lexington was his dad. Justin Berkman,the 17 yr old phenom,was holding his own in a 50 and 100 dollar ring game this past weekend with players like Shane McMinn,Lil' John,and James Walden. There were also stories about some of the all time greats like Mosconi and Jimmy Caras betting it up as kids,back when a 20 dollar score was literally food on the table for a month. Tommy D.
Sure kids can play for the money. Its 99.9% not their money to begin with, the money is provided by a backer. Unless they have a job, which they do not. They have no resposibilities other than showing up to play. They are excelling at a pool at a rapid pace, so their confidence keeps growing each day and since they have no distractions outside of what is immeditily in front of them, they also have an easier time focusing on playing.
Yes, I know most of these kids go to school and they have home work that needs to get done, but thats the extent of their responsibilities.
Yes, I know most of these kids go to school and they have home work that needs to get done, but thats the extent of their responsibilities.
Take a visit to Valley Forge and you'll see several kids playing for money.Bread N Butter said:
I remember when Quinten Hann was 14 and Johl Younger at the same age used to chase a lot of money games at tournies.
I think it made them tough players and helped them make the break through to the higher ranks, if only by stimulating their motivation to make money from the game.
While gambling is a terrible curse to many players, and I would not recommend this, I would encourage a youngster with the ambition to be a pro to play money matches....but it should be treated as a business.
eg. Assign them a set kitty, say $50 per week. They must record wins, losses, type of bets, appraisals, profits, losses etc. so they can see it as a business requiring skills in judgement, not just as playing for the rush.
If the profits build up, money management can come in, such that 10% of the funds may be bet and lost in any one day session, but money won during that day may be re-invested and used.
A child must be set firm guidelines until they can prove themselves to be responsible. They should learn the pros and cons of the various ways of making money as a player in a professional and organized way. This is not gambling.
If the kid learns, such playing will be less of a gamble than most tournaments.
I think it made them tough players and helped them make the break through to the higher ranks, if only by stimulating their motivation to make money from the game.
While gambling is a terrible curse to many players, and I would not recommend this, I would encourage a youngster with the ambition to be a pro to play money matches....but it should be treated as a business.
eg. Assign them a set kitty, say $50 per week. They must record wins, losses, type of bets, appraisals, profits, losses etc. so they can see it as a business requiring skills in judgement, not just as playing for the rush.
If the profits build up, money management can come in, such that 10% of the funds may be bet and lost in any one day session, but money won during that day may be re-invested and used.
A child must be set firm guidelines until they can prove themselves to be responsible. They should learn the pros and cons of the various ways of making money as a player in a professional and organized way. This is not gambling.
If the kid learns, such playing will be less of a gamble than most tournaments.
I am 19 now but to aswer your question, yes. From the time I was 16 I was betting anywhere from $50 a set to $700 ahead sets every night. I really liked to play $100 and $200 sets. I have also played other junior players that bet big. A little over a year ago I was playing races to 7 for $500 with someone a couple months younger than me. Now as far as responsibilities Im a full time student in college and had a job before I got in my car accident. The real killer was a girlfriend though! It took me out of the game for a little over a year. So yes responsibilities do cut down young players playing time but not all kids choose to have these responsibilities. My parents hate pool to be honest with you. They really havent supported along the way, like most parents do with young players. Most will take them on the road themselves but my parents are very traditional. They only have supported me like twice when Ive had to travel to play a Junior National tournament and they had to go. LOLBread N Butter said:
As far as my knowledge goes,shannon &Tony watson played for big money when they were 11-12 year old.
I refuse to gamble with a minor ( to avoid criminal charges of contributing for delinquency of a minor) and I refuse to take money from a Minor because of my personal values/morals.
I refuse to gamble with a minor ( to avoid criminal charges of contributing for delinquency of a minor) and I refuse to take money from a Minor because of my personal values/morals.
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vagabond said:
You got a point there, I was playing with a kid that was 16 at the time. Whenever he would lose....which was all the time to me....his true integrity would show through....he would lie and argue about what the score was. He even marked himself up a set when his score was 2 away from winning...I wouldn't put it past him to call the cops saying I was taking advantage of him.....This kid turned into a basic low life all around and no one will even acknowledhe him anymore....
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vagabond said:
I agree 100%
In the summer of 1992, I saw a very young Tony Watson (14 at the time I believe) betting it up in front of a huge crowd at the Willards International 9 and 8 Ball tournaments. The first time was when he beat Dennis Hatch getting the 8 for 500 a set. He later tortured many others, and was easily carrying 15k on him in a big horse choking sized knot of hundreds. He may have been 14 but he was no youngster in ability. Plus, even at that young age, Tony could give most players the last 3 in woofing and ability to stir it up.
About a year or so later, I again ran into Tony in North Carolina. We had spent some time together at the Willards tournament, and he remembered me. He then told me that shortly after I saw him that first time in Chicago, someone stuck a gun into his mouth outside a greasy spoon and relieved him of that knot of money.
About a year or so later, I again ran into Tony in North Carolina. We had spent some time together at the Willards tournament, and he remembered me. He then told me that shortly after I saw him that first time in Chicago, someone stuck a gun into his mouth outside a greasy spoon and relieved him of that knot of money.
no, probably not.watchez said:
Dood- the joke is on you if you are expecting your parents to support any desire to make pool your living. WHo pays for your college? And the room with your bed? Groceries? Car? HEalth insurance? Get that college degree while you can and maybe you will be in the best position to provide for your parents and your own family one day, returning the favor of love...bigsamho said:
Im actually glad they dont support me in pool like some parents do their children. Ive never thought that I could make a living off pool. I just posted that comment about my parents to show people that just because a kid plays good pool doesnt mean every parent is taking them on the road.Black-Balled said:
Ive also read a couple of the latest post on here about the kids acting like brats or chumps after you beat them. That is not true. Do you know why that happened? That happened because you took money from kids and not pool players. I have lost lots of money and never whined once. I may have been mad at myself but thats it. Ive also seen some of the best junior players around lose a lot as well and they pay off without a problem. I dont want to list any names but I will PM them if someone wants them for some reason.
Its just like with some adults. If you beat someone who is really not a pool player out of some cash than there is a better percentage of a dispute happening than with a pool player who has experience losing money.
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