Mosconi Cup 2025, Dec. 3-6, Alexandra Palace, London

FWIW, here's my take, from a lowly "C" player (most if not all of it stating the painfully obvious):

- The game requires dedication and practice. Performing at a very high level requires the knowledge of what to shoot, and how to shoot it. But it's a small part of the picture.
- On the winner's side, I saw exceptional confidence and "trust the process" reflected in the performance
- On the loser's side, I saw hesitancy and doubt reflected in the performance, in spite of the knowledge and talent players possess
- As everyone here already knows, mental toughness is a key component to optimal performance
- If professionals can succumb to distractions, self-doubt, and pressure, then who am I, a lowly banger, to get all pissy when I miss a shot?
- There is a HUGE difference between practicing and playing for fun, and playing in "for real" competition. I can prove this to myself week after week at league and small local tournament nights.

Now, as many times as I have promised myself I would GTFO of my head, relax, and trust the process, I am only baby steps toward doing so. That will be my takeaway. I know how to shoot. I don't know how to perform. I don't know how to win when shooting matters. SO MUCH to learn.

If anything, watching 2025 Mosconi Cup only encourages me yet again to shift my focus from controlling execution, to trusting and having confidence. If you knew me, you would think that as much as I talk about it, I'd be further along in this respect.

If only . . . .
 
Rusty Dutch said:
For all those moaning about the noise, go check out the last 9 in game 4 - there is dead silence in the room when Styer chokes on the shot.

Seems the crowd did get noisier as the crowd realized Styer was prone to choking on key shots.

Any player who is on the hill and has this set up for the last 8 ball of the match:

View attachment 867956

And manages to achieve this positioning on the 9:

View attachment 867957


And then misses the 9…

…Should probably not be included in the U.S.A team again. Or maybe the team needs a psychologist.
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…Should probably not be included in the U.S.A team again. Or maybe the team needs a psychologist.

Maybe the Cubs could lend us their guy....

1765213150490.jpeg
 
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Kris_b1104 said:
Last year's thread only had 61 pages 😮

Talk about compelling.
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You do mean the forum, right? There's zero chance of me calling the Cup itself compelling. I watched Wed and two matches on Sat. I'd rather watch two 600 Fargo's play $100 sets. I hadn't watched one in a long time and i won't be going back. Re-runs are fine for old movies but not this deal.
 
dquarasr said:
FWIW, here's my take, from a lowly "C" player (most if not all of it stating the painfully obvious):

- The game requires dedication and practice. Performing at a very high level requires the knowledge of what to shoot, and how to shoot it. But it's a small part of the picture.
- On the winner's side, I saw exceptional confidence and "trust the process" reflected in the performance
- On the loser's side, I saw hesitancy and doubt reflected in the performance, in spite of the knowledge and talent players possess
- As everyone here already knows, mental toughness is a key component to optimal performance
- If professionals can succumb to distractions, self-doubt, and pressure, then who am I, a lowly banger, to get all pissy when I miss a shot?
- There is a HUGE difference between practicing and playing for fun, and playing in "for real" competition. I can prove this to myself week after week at league and small local tournament nights.

Now, as many times as I have promised myself I would GTFO of my head, relax, and trust the process, I am only baby steps toward doing so. That will be my takeaway. I know how to shoot. I don't know how to perform. I don't know how to win when shooting matters. SO MUCH to learn.

If anything, watching 2025 Mosconi Cup only encourages me yet again to shift my focus from controlling execution, to trusting and having confidence. If you knew me, you would think that as much as I talk about it, I'd be further along in this respect.

If only . . . .
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The novel Pt1

Never let anyone outwork you.
To "outwork everyone" means to consistently put in more effort, dedication, and focused work than your peers to achieve superior results, often involving extra hours, skill development, strategic focus, and going the extra mile, while also prioritizing self-care for sustainability, separating oneself through relentless pursuit and smart execution, not just busy work. It's about a superior work ethic, mental toughness, and strategic action that distinguishes you in any field, from sports to business, by doing what others won't.

The US has one ‘’ELITE PLAYER “ Shane. Possibly our greatest player all time.
The worker who deserves every pin on his chest. An elite player for many years and still battling.
All others are 2nd and 3rd tier players. They might work, but don’t put in the overtime.
Blind squirrels can find a nut but they
are still blind.

When you reach the top it’s tough to stay there. The competition worldwide is at a level that’s never been seen.
 
Kris_b1104 said:
Lol I have no idea what you're talking about. Care to share some inside info?
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Watching loved ones be picked apart on social media is never easy. Parents, family members, and close friends feel it deeply, often more deeply than the person being discussed. I get that. Ask me how I know. ;)

Recently, strong opinions were shared on a Window's Open podcast about a Billy Thorpe Jr.'s style, strength, and even his place on a future Mosconi Cup Team USA. Billy Thorpe Sr. (Billy Jr.'s dad) made a rant-filled post on Facebook sharing his thoughts about the Window's Open owner/founder (M.M.) for sharing his opinions about Billy Jr. Of course, he loves his son and is very proud. Opinions come with the territory in competitive sports, but they don’t always land lightly, especially when they involve someone’s child, sibling, or partner. The Thorpe family is incredibly proud of Billy, and rightly so, not just for how powerfully he plays pool, but for the man he is, which is family-oriented, hardworking, and entrepreneurial.

I happen to like and respect all parties involved here. I like the Window’s Open founder/owner (M.M.), and I also like the entire Thorpe family. That’s exactly why this is worth saying that reading disparaging words about people you love can tear a hole in your heart. Replying to an opinionated post you do not agree with rarely helps when it is about someone you love. It doesn't change minds, and it often amplifies the negativity. Silence, restraint, and perspective are learned skills. They take years to build, and I still struggle with it from time to time.

We can disagree. We can debate performance, style, and decisions, and people are entitled to their opinions, of course. But remembering the human beings and families behind the headlines and opinions goes a long way too. The pool culture is a small one, and we know each player much more so than we would, say, a famous golfer or baseball player. We interact with them and even their families on social media in this pool world. Sometimes the strongest response from a family member or loved one is no response at all.

A good example of this is how Joshua Filler handled the cyberbullying on social media when he was attacked viciously ad nauseum for changing his mind about which tournament he was going to compete in. He said nothing, responded to nothing, and continued on with his pool career full speed ahead. He is the epitome of social media maturity. A year later, he's back on the Mosconi Cup team. Silence is golden sometimes.
 
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After a few days of hindsight, I can only add this one sobering thought. I come from a generation of American pool players who ruled the planet. True we were not so aware of the Filipinos yet since they were not traveling to the USA until the 1980's. But there was no doubt in our minds that we had the best players right here. Sigel, Mizerak, Varner, Rempe, Hopkins, West, Howard, Earl, Archer, Davenport and the older vets like Shorty, Ervolino, Jersey Red, Kelly, Ronnie, Butera, Cornbread and Richie. Who could beat us at pool? Nobody!

And this was the way it was............until! Efren and Parica came along and other Pinoy players started showing up here, and kicking ass. Next thing we know there are European players winning major tournaments, by the late 1990's and early 2000's. The bubble had burst! From there it only got worse until we reached the complete breaking point. If not for Shane the last fifteen years we probably wouldn't have won anything of note.

That makes it hard to swallow for a guy like me, who for a long time believed wholeheartedly in American pool dominance. After all, it was our game!

I've long since accepted the fact that the best players today are not born and bred here, and now I enjoy the worldwide flavor of our sport, with the talent being developed everywhere else it seems. So, in essence the game is growing exponentially. Just not here.
 
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