With the exception of legitimate pro-speed players like Donnie Mills and a couple others who visit this site, I don't expect anyone else here to get past 10-12 racks.
There is one major assumption here...
-- That a player like SVB actually keep top level competitive focus and desire as if he was hill-hill at the US Open or something, despite playing a player several levels weaker and with a massive spot.
I've been around pool enough in the last 20 years. I've seen hundreds of semi-pro to pro level players. Countless others who could run 6-packs, beat the ghost often and all that good stuff. Every pool room has one, some have more. IT DOESN'T MEAN A THING.
One would think, it's the same table, same balls right? Shouldn't the skills just translate to a match against SVB all the same? No. Let's assume there's no psychological matter like problems with confidence in playing someone like SVB. Or the distraction of actually being in a match with someone you might idolize as a pool player. Remove that from the equation.
They are still not as good as him. And, while the table is the same, the balls the same and yeah, so and so can run 2, 3, or 5 racks...they are not just playing a table. You are playing an opponent. You do not get the same leaves, rolls, opportunities, safes and whatnot playing an A level player vs. say SVB.
The smallest difference, such as a player who can make a ball on the break more consistently by even a small percentage more translates to huge advantages on the table, which translates to big differences in games won and final score. The same is true in a top level safety and kicking game. Little things add up and lead to control of the table, which leads to games won and big differences in score.
It's very simple. If you coulda, you woulda. There's a lot of players out there who can't. Not because they don't want to, but because they can't. If they could, they would.
As I said, there is a sea of players out there who can run racks and play strong. But when they go up against a SVB...all of a sudden, all that run out power and awesome play recedes. It is not just a table and balls.
All the above said, if SVB plays full force. Not letting up anywhere, not screwing around, because he might not respect your game - if he plays aggressive but smart with full intention of winning and doing so by the largest possible margin - I do not expect anyone in this thread to get past 10 games. They should be happy and jump for joy getting 5. Yes, it is that bad. Yes, there is THAT much of a gap between them and a player like SVB. No, just because it's 100 racks doesn't mean mistakes or opportunities will be plentiful enough. They will still be rare.
They might even be more rare. Because unlike playing another champion of his speed, there will be less need to take high pressure chances to run out against a weaker player. Playing Alex or Ralph, SVB might go for the brutal out where some danger in missing is present. Because handing over the table might be worse. Because there are consequences and a real threat there at the rack level. Remember, they can kick, play safe, jump and all of that at world-class level. It's all about playing the percentages.
Due to the weakness in the kicking and safety game, where the gap in skill is largest between a A player and a Pro - the Pro can take full advantage of this. With less need to take risks, there will be less opportunities to get to the table because SVB isn't going to miss as many balls because he doesn't need to shoot them.
Look at it from their perspective. He can try some tough shot, risk missing and giving you a chance, which is some chance at getting out. Or, play safe and risk you kicking and returning safe or kicking and making the ball. Those percentages are vastly lower for the non-Pro, thus for him, it's higher percentage to put you in that position. Making the ball is tough and low percentage even for the Pros. Kicking and returning a quality safe, doing so with some regularity or consistency is the realm of Pros. Even if you luck a few, or do so with full intention, he can return a kick safe right back. We see Pros go back and forth several turns. The A level or semi-pro collapses in this area. They can't hang with the big dogs. It's the same reason why the women players are not as good as the men. The break, and the safety / kicking game. Yes, men are still better position play and shotmaking and all that. But the larger gap is in the break and safety/kicking. It's that area that thousands of A players across the country struggle with and cannot transition to Pro level.
By virtue of the bet in the spirit of competition - they would have to play in a manner that would deny their opponent as many games as possible. Given that, I don't think anyone gets past 10. Pros excluded of course.
I agree with just about everything Celtic said in his post. Celtic gets it, because he has seen what I've seen. I've also watched semi-pros get pummeled by standard average touring pros (not even elite pros). Super duper shortstops losing 11-1 or 11-0. Exactly right. These are guys that put up 6 packs at times in their pool rooms, barely winning a rack against top pros.
30 games is fantasy.
