Manalo, Strickland, Hann, all 0-2

[smashmouth]

Realistically, all these guys need to run the board now to have a shot at advancing.

Manalo is a true shocker, on par with Hohman, LJJ.

It should be noted that at the NA open, only 1 player with 2 wins
in the second round advanced to round 3, that was O'Sullivan.

 

[sniper]

This just goes to show how tough, and unpredictable this field is.

 

[smashmouth]

Also, five players with 3 wins did not advance.

 

[recoveryjones]

Add Luat to the 0-2 mix fix.
RJ

 

[sniper]

Add Luat to the 0-2 mix fix.
RJ

That one comes as a big surprise, he is a very strong and consistent player.

 

[smashmouth]

Christ, Wu is 0-2 also, what's goin on??

 

[sniper]

Christ, Wu is 0-2 also, what's goin on??

Two tough hill-hill losses for Wu, with his last matches against Feijen, Hann, and Engert it is going to take some incredible playing on his part to advance.

 

[vagabond]

Christ, Wu is 0-2 also, what's goin on??

wolves become ferocious when they are hungry

 

[Cuaba]

Quinten just won his match, and is now #3 in his group. Don't count these guys out yet.

 

[Snapshot9]

There seems ...

to be a lot of interesting shakeouts in the groups, could it be defense and how good someone can kick? be coming into play?

 

[Williebetmore]

This just goes to show how tough, and unpredictable this field is.

Sniper,
Are you sure it is not the GAME ITSELF that is a little unpredictable when played by top echelon players. Is there really anyone in the top 50 that couldn't easily beat Marlon in race to 8, 8-ball??? Four or five good breaks for the contender, 4 or 5 dry breaks for Marlon and it's all over for him, even against an inferior player. Just a thought.

 

[Celtic]

Sniper,
Are you sure it is not the GAME ITSELF that is a little unpredictable when played by top echelon players. Is there really anyone in the top 50 that couldn't easily beat Marlon in race to 8, 8-ball??? Four or five good breaks for the contender, 4 or 5 dry breaks for Marlon and it's all over for him, even against an inferior player. Just a thought.

I blame the 4.5 inch pockets. Make them the size of the pockets in the US Open last year and the number of B&R's would drop alot and the cream would again rise to the top. The slow cloth making the game harder excuse the IPT puts out there does not hold water for anyone who knows that 8-ball is a pattern play game where moving the cueball is not as critical as playing good patterns. The pockets needed to be alot smaller and the cloth should have stayed fast, then we would be seeing the players have issues.

Right now it is indeed a breaking competition, if you break dry more then twice you are in deep trouble. When guys are running over 50% of their tables off the break the matches become akin to a coin toss.