This weekend I went down to Charleston, SC for the Great Southern Billiards Tour hosted by Shannon & Marge. It was my first time playing in one of their events and I must say they do a great job.
I posted my best finish in a regional event by coming in 5th-6th place. Just in the money. I should have at least came in 4th place but I just ran out of gas I guess in my final match that I lost 9 to 7 which I had a chance to go up 8-7 but I dogged a long 9. It was tough because I had to play 4 matches back to back without getting a break.
Anyways, like the thread title indicated... I had the match of my life in this tournament. I had just lost a tough match on the winner's side to Biff Bowden 9-7, who also finished 5-6th, and I had to play immediately against one of the best players in the Carolinas, Mike Staubs.
I started out by breaking and running the first rack and then also winning the next, but I started to stumble by making a few careless mistakes which Mike took advantage of. He started running out, like Mike does, and began to run right through me by having 8-2 lead over me needing only 1 more win for the match with me needing 7. I got a few opportunities at the table but I was shooting straight up in the air due in part to seeing my opponent running over me. One thing I caught myself doing was being real negative and being mad at myself for looking like an idiot in front of a large crowd that was watching the match. I recomposed myself and just started taking it 1 game at a time.
I don't know the specifics of the rest of the match because when I am totally focused the games just feel like yesterday's dream... But I ended up coming back and tying the match 8-8 on the hill. I then wiped down my stick, took a few deep breaths, and then broke... I hit the break really nice but the cue ball heartbreakingly got kicked into the corner pocket and the table was wide open. Mike had a somewhat tricky position to get on the 2 and ended up hooking himself leaving a long jump shot which he drilled. He then played me safe on the 4 but left an edge that I could see. I tried thinning the 4 and leaving the cue ball up table but I hit it a little too thickly and left him a long 4 in the corner, which he made, but then hooked himself on the 5. He kicked at the 5 but left me a shot on it, which I ran out for the improbable comeback victory.
I've never came back from such a huge deficit before... especially against such a strong player that is favored so heavily against me. Definitely a match that I'll always remember.
Thought I'd share that with you guys. Happy Holiday's!
I posted my best finish in a regional event by coming in 5th-6th place. Just in the money. I should have at least came in 4th place but I just ran out of gas I guess in my final match that I lost 9 to 7 which I had a chance to go up 8-7 but I dogged a long 9. It was tough because I had to play 4 matches back to back without getting a break.
Anyways, like the thread title indicated... I had the match of my life in this tournament. I had just lost a tough match on the winner's side to Biff Bowden 9-7, who also finished 5-6th, and I had to play immediately against one of the best players in the Carolinas, Mike Staubs.
I started out by breaking and running the first rack and then also winning the next, but I started to stumble by making a few careless mistakes which Mike took advantage of. He started running out, like Mike does, and began to run right through me by having 8-2 lead over me needing only 1 more win for the match with me needing 7. I got a few opportunities at the table but I was shooting straight up in the air due in part to seeing my opponent running over me. One thing I caught myself doing was being real negative and being mad at myself for looking like an idiot in front of a large crowd that was watching the match. I recomposed myself and just started taking it 1 game at a time.
I don't know the specifics of the rest of the match because when I am totally focused the games just feel like yesterday's dream... But I ended up coming back and tying the match 8-8 on the hill. I then wiped down my stick, took a few deep breaths, and then broke... I hit the break really nice but the cue ball heartbreakingly got kicked into the corner pocket and the table was wide open. Mike had a somewhat tricky position to get on the 2 and ended up hooking himself leaving a long jump shot which he drilled. He then played me safe on the 4 but left an edge that I could see. I tried thinning the 4 and leaving the cue ball up table but I hit it a little too thickly and left him a long 4 in the corner, which he made, but then hooked himself on the 5. He kicked at the 5 but left me a shot on it, which I ran out for the improbable comeback victory.
I've never came back from such a huge deficit before... especially against such a strong player that is favored so heavily against me. Definitely a match that I'll always remember.
Thought I'd share that with you guys. Happy Holiday's!
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