might we see Carom Pros dip into pool/snooker?

smashmouth

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've seen glimpses of some these guys (Blohmdahl, Sayinger) play exhibition pool and totally love the unique style and flare they bring to the game, also more than impressed with their ball pocketing ability and overall level of play

the snooker scene is barely a stone's throw away for the Euro players not to mention the plethora of both american pool and uk 8 ball style tourneys nowadays in Europe

I'm a huge fan and proponent of players crossing disciplines and would be thrilled to see more of the carom guys

with that said, I 'd kill to see some of the snooker pros try carom too as some of heir kicks and banks on the snooker tables are obscene

we've seen so many snooker pros over the years try pool, a few pool guys try snooker, and nowadays alot of the top snooker amateurs seem to be doing pool and uk 8 ball

can we get some carom guys into pocket billiards at all?
 
Hi smashmouth,

Many good 3C players in this country are cross-overs. They once played good pool and transitioned to caroms. Which reminds me of a story.

I use to go to the Derby City Classic each year. I liked the old venue when it was at the hotel in Kentucky. The infamous bar there was fantastic! The mix of top players, backers, vendors, and a host of fun characters and fellow alchoholics to chit chat with.

I cozied up to the bar after imbibbing for most of the evening, afternoon, and morning. Jerry Briesath ( arguably one of the best pool instructors on the planet ) and I struck up a conversation. The discussion morphed into why many older pool players transition into carom players.

Anyone who knows me knows if someone says the sky is blue I will vehemently disagree with as much passion as I can muster. Jerry argued the older pool players transition to caroms because it takes less accuracy. Their nerves and eyesight are failing. So why not play caroms.....a game at it's pinnacle best may average two points per inning. In short...the expectations are low and the competition is sparse ( at least in this country ). My counter argument was that the transition had little to do with failing skills but more social in nature. As one gets older their choice with whom they want to hang with becomes more selective. Most of them had their fill of gambling with people they would never think of inviting to their house or for that matter anyone's house. Whether true or not the feeling is that the fraternity of carom players is more cordial and attracted a more sedate following.

Needless to say we both had fun and as the night wound down I think it is safe to say I became more and more incoherent.

Now what was the question you asked Smashmouth?
 
right on steve

I agree steve. Billiard players realize that both they and their opponent have a common enemy, the game. The unforgiving nature of those three balls gives us all something in common. Case in point. This morning I saw Frederic Caudron miss 3 short angle shots in the first 8 innings and still finish with over a 2.0 average. I could relate to those misses, I only wish I could relate to that average.

all the best
John Bowers
 
I've heard a couple good players say they got bored with pool.

I'll try to keep this thread in mind. In a month or so you all might be pleasantly surprised.
 
Am I detecting a fore-warned gauntlet Tom may be throwing down for NYC?
Don't make me come to Carom Cafe and pay someone to get in your flight ! :wink:
 
OK, coincidently Paul Frankel just called and gave me the Green Light to announce his special event at the Super Billiards Expo.

Shane Van Boeing, Mike Dechane, Mazin Shooni, & Hugo Patino will be mixing it up on the pocketless tables. Come and see some of the todays Best Pool Players Crossover and compete with United States 3-Cushion National Champions.

Wonder if it will stick. We'll certainly welcome them with open arms.

BTW there's 2 other events scheduled around 3-Cushion but you'll have to go to Professor Q-ball's site to find out.
http://professorqball.com/

Challengde-Match-Champions-200.jpg
 
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That looks awesome! Someone should tell those guys to be careful though, once you catch the 3C bug, there's no going back!
 
Yes.....each table should have a warning label like cigarette packs. The Surgeon General warns that carom billiards is highly addictive and can cause spousal issues.

Ha Ha
 
can we get some carom guys into pocket billiards at all?


.- Once you get seriously hooked to Carambole games (specially 3-cushion) usually there is no coming back.

I'm also a crossover player: from pool to straight rail and, later on, 3-cushion.

That was 25 years ago.

NEVER again played or took pocket billiards seriously (I plat it VERY occasionally to please friends, but I get bored quickly).

I don't even watch a pool game, no matter who's playing or if it's the intergalactic championship.




That said, a few 3-cushion stars also excels at Pool, Like Blohmdal.

Some devoted carom players, like Efren Reyes (Balkline is his favorite game), take on pool because there is more money on it.

Although not the most popular cue game in the US (it's a diabolically difficult game, very challenging, and not for the casual player), for me 3-cushion is the king of cue sports.
 
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That looks awesome! Someone should tell those guys to be careful though, once you catch the 3C bug, there's no going back!

I second this as a newly, hopelessly hooked 3c nut

feverishly attempting to get ride of the goldcrown for a chevillotte, verhoven or gabriels

with no success or leads

banging around the 15 balls on my table while my minds at the hall on my favorite kronos
 
can we get some carom guys into pocket billiards at all?


.- Watch T.- Blohmdal, a Swedish 3 cushion champion, defeating Efren "Bata" Reyes (considered the best pool player of all times) in his own game (9 ball)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEGYPzc3ywg&feature=youtu.be

Blohmdal 9 - Reyes 5

And, not surprisingly, Blohmdal mopped the floor with Reyes in 3 cushions. (Reyes is actually a carom player who took on Pool for the money.)



Now, the other way around,

Pool player diva Jeannette Lee gets her (pretty) ass ravaged in a 3 cushion tournament. (Sang Lee Open) by, again, Blohmdal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY8skX6xL78

Before tha tournament, she was getting 3 cushion lessons from, well, Blohmdal himself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6ritUhFsc4

Otherwise, the score would have been easily 35 - 0, .




BTW, although T. Blohmdal is a superstar, he's not invincible:

http://www.umb-carom.org/AP/cm/215P113L2/SUNG-WON-CHOI--WORLD-CHAMPION.aspx

He's also been defeated by others.

Of course, it takes a 3 cushion star to make this happen.


Needless to say, a Pool player, even a mega champion, would not stand the minimal chance against the likes of Blohmdal, Caudron, Jaspers, Sung-Won Choi or Zanetti in a 3C tournament.

Most likely, not even against any competent 3C player.
 
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OK, coincidently Paul Frankel just called and gave me the Green Light to announce his special event at the Super Billiards Expo.

Shane Van Boeing, Mike Dechane, Mazin Shooni, & Hugo Patino will be mixing it up on the pocketless tables. Come and see some of the todays Best Pool Players Crossover and compete with United States 3-Cushion National Champions.

Wonder if it will stick. We'll certainly welcome them with open arms.

BTW there's 2 other events scheduled around 3-Cushion but you'll have to go to Professor Q-ball's site to find out.
http://professorqball.com/

View attachment 370003
is there any video of this available??
 
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