New break rule for European Open

[skogstokig]

oscar is through, sky is out. tyler leading 7-4 over yapp.

also out: mika, ralf

 

[skogstokig]

tyler through. took the lead convincingly 7-1, but yapp came back to make it 7-7. tyler closed it out with a B'N'R, 9-7.

 

[hang-the-9]

Mike Dechaine told me his thoughts the rack and break, he thinks of it as any other pool shot, so if a player is good at reading the rack and racking and making a ball, why would that player be penalized for learning the shot better than others? It's no different than say someone that can cut a ball up the rail well, we don't setup rules to make it harder to do so, so changing rules for the break is the same idea.

I view the break as the setup of the game that should be equal for everyone, meaning magic rack is best so no one gets a more tight or loose rack than the other. And break from whenever is best for the player. But Mike has a point also, changing break rules around is basically saying to the players that break well that their time and skill are being marginalized by taking away what they know so others that don't know the same thing have a more equal chance. It's all a moot point though since in any event no matter the rules, it's the same players that finish in the top 10 no matter what is placed in front of them. 7' tables 9' tables, tight pockets, break with a broom, yellow cloth, dayglo pool balls, it's still the same players in the mix at the top spots every event.

 

[Bob Jewett]

oscar is through, sky is out. tyler leading 7-4 over yapp.

also out: mika, ralf

Also out:

(Scoring is here: https://cuescore.com/tournament/bracket/?id=16923754 )

 

[AtLarge]

Thanks, I just didn't remember it.

I just happen to think this break rule is too difficult, ...

For the matches I tracked in those 7 events that I mentioned, the percentages of successful breaks were generally in the 60s, games won by the breaker in the 50s, and B&R games in the 20s. I consider all of those results to be reasonable (possibly for both players and fans). How about you?

This European Open (EO) does have some differences from those events that could affect the degree of difficulty of the break:
- Those events used a racking template throughout; I think (not sure) the EO will be switching to a triangle for the Last 16.
- Those events, except for one, had pro-cut pockets; I think the EO has tighter pockets (4¼"?). The exception in those earlier events was the most recent one, the 2021 International, where the corners were 4¼". Successful breaks were 65%, breaker won game 51%, and B&Rs 27%.
- Those events used an illegal-break (3-point) rule; the EO is leaving it to the referee's judgment as to whether the break is forceful enough.

 

[336Robin]

Mike Dechaine told me his thoughts the rack and break, he thinks of it as any other pool shot, so if a player is good at reading the rack and racking and making a ball, why would that player be penalized for learning the shot better than others? It's no different than say someone that can cut a ball up the rail well, we don't setup rules to make it harder to do so, so changing rules for the break is the same idea.

I view the break as the setup of the game that should be equal for everyone, meaning magic rack is best so no one gets a more tight or loose rack than the other. And break from whenever is best for the player. But Mike has a point also, changing break rules around is basically saying to the players that break well that their time and skill are being marginalized by taking away what they know so others that don't know the same thing have a more equal chance. It's all a moot point though since in any event no matter the rules, it's the same players that finish in the top 10 no matter what is placed in front of them. 7' tables 9' tables, tight pockets, break with a broom, yellow cloth, dayglo pool balls, it's still the same players in the mix at the top spots every event.

Perhaps the Magic Rack should have gone the other way and instead of perfectly frozen balls, have all balls unfrozen
and then let them figure that out. lol

They could put in all the time they wanted in the breakshot that way.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Other notable elimination matches. I see Mario He is playing again. I thought he was semi-retired.

 

[sjm]

Nice to see Moritz Neuhausen into Stage 2. Just last year, he was the World 17 and Under Champion.

 

[AtLarge]

Fewest games lost getting to the Final 64: Mohammad Soufi, 5 games. 2nd place: Albin Ouschan, 7 games. 3rd place, SVB, 8 games.

[no ribbons for this]

 

[skogstokig]

Other notable elimination matches. I see Mario He is playing again. I thought he was semi-retired.

he won the predator ohio open last year, also european champion in 8-ball. since then no results afaik. maybe a bit of an underachiever, given his talent

 

[Bob Jewett]

Fewest games lost getting to the Final 64: Mohammad Soufi, 5 games. 2nd place: Albin Ouschan, 7 games. 3rd place, SVB, 8 games.

[no ribbons for this]

Any ribbon should go to the most games lost. I see Bart Czapla lost 35 games but qualified for the final 64. (Won 37 games.)

 

[skogstokig]

too bad oscar drew tyler. also kaci drew filler, kazakis drew alcaide

 

[sjm]

he won the predator ohio open last year, also european champion in 8-ball. since then no results afaik. maybe a bit of an underachiever, given his talent

Mario was 4th at the Derby City nine ball in a field of over 400 players. He tied for 5th at the UK Open, another giant field event. Also reached the semis at the just completed Euro-tour Petrich Open. Mario still plays very well.

 

[sjm]

Fewest games lost getting to the Final 64: Mohammad Soufi, 5 games. 2nd place: Albin Ouschan, 7 games. 3rd place, SVB, 8 games.

[no ribbons for this]

Five games lost in three matches is impressive. We had better keep an eye on Soufi.

 

[skogstokig]

Mario was 4th at the Derby City nine ball in a field of over 400 players. He tied for 5th at the UK Open, another giant field event. Also reached the semis at the just completed Euro-tour Petrich Open. Mario still plays very well.

i hope he wins one of these big ones some day. he's a huge talent and once had a MC spot..

 

[sjm]

i hope he wins one of these big ones some day. he's a huge talent and once had a MC spot..

One of the soundest players out there, not to mention a really likable guy. Based on Fargo, he's the twenty fifth best player in the world right now. Always a threat to make a deep run.

 

[skogstokig]

my (very) outside bet to win this was young serbian player aleksa pecelj. he drew lechner, and if he wins that he's likely to face albin. tough action

but yea oscar/tyler will play filler/kaci so that's also a tough route for two MC hopefuls

 

[sjm]

oscar/tyler will play filler/kaci so that's also a tough route for two MC hopefuls

Tyler has been in very good form. He came within a whisker of beating Filler at the World Games in July and did beat him at the Mosconi Cup in December.

Similarly, Oscar got to double hill with Filler at the 2021 International before losing. I am not aware of their results against Kaci.

Jonas Souto Comino may be a live longshot in this spot. He's got plenty of game.

 

[sjm]

Looks like a very strong final 64 and it should provide some great theater. Not many easy draws out there!

 

[AtLarge]

Any ribbon should go to the most games lost. I see Bart Czapla lost 35 games but qualified for the final 64. (Won 37 games.)

Good idea. So Czapla played 72 games (including 3 hill/hill matches) compared with Soufi's 32. Maybe a blood-stained ribbon for Czapla would be appropriate.