john schmidt said:
id like to add something.imho the filipinos really are awesome and they play more pool than the rest of us.but where they stand out over the americans is kicking.now this 8ball takes away the kicking a little.also the game of 8ball is very much like straight pool, believe me. now im not trying to say im going to do well because i play straight pool, but i would look for the europeans and american straight poolers to hold their own pretty well.also when the americans start applying themselves and quit golfing ,poker etc ,myself included and start playing pool 24-7 like the filipinos and euros we might make people think were pretty tough.well thats all the rambling i can do for now im tired, i just got off the golf course with boo weekly he shot 62 from 7 thousand yards.i better stick with pool lol.
This resonates with me John,
The Philippinos have a great range of skills and many of them are continually matching up / playing hard games, making them tourney ready.
But they are not so experienced in 8-ball. As you say, 14.1 players will have some advantages over pure 9-ball players in this game. But 14.1 is not purely enough. 8-ball requires a certain level of planning, cluster breaking, double or triple shot positional playing which are all often not intrinsic to the mind of a 9-ball player or 14.1 player, though I think the 14.1 players have a definite advantage over the pure 9-ballers.
For the top 6 I expect at least 3 names that most aren't familiar with. I wouldn't be surprised if 15 of the qualifier entrants make it into the last 36 and another 10 of that 36 are near unknowns, with just around 10-12 of the known name players still active in the last 36.
Players with a familiarity of 8-ball will have an ~30% match advantage over those without the knowledge. The top players will adapt, but it could take them some time.
The English 8-ballers, though their game rules, balls and tables are slightly different. will be well suited I believe. This includes the Australians, Scotts etc. Once they get familiar with the tables and larger balls, they'll adapt their pattern knowledge and be very efficient in taking their opportunities.
My dark horses are the English style pool players and the Europeans who play more 8-ball than most Americans, though I believe their are a dozen or so Americans in the field, mainly from the qualifiers, that have strong capabilities in 8-ball.
It's gonna be a hellfire competition and some previously little known names are gonna make their mark at the Venetian. I can't wait.
Colin
