For those of you that have followed my previous posts, where I asked for opinions regarding conflicts in our weekly 9-ball handicapped tournament, I made the decision last week, after receiving numerous helpful posts, to return back to old fashioned Texas Express 9-ball rules - anything goes. Yes, we have a push-out rule following the break and a 3-foul rule, but no need to call anything at any time.
Why didn't I do this a long time ago? Absolutely no incidents occurred all night and it was a breeze from a TD's perspective. We still incorporate rack your own balls and a 9-ball made on the break is spotted. Also, only a one race final regardless of whether the undefeated player or the one-loss player wins that set. That can potentially speed up as to when the tournament ends and when I can get out of here.
Now the only conflicts I'll have to settle are two players that have a disagreement on the current game score of the match, and disagreements over whether the lowest ball was contacted first. It's amazing to me how 2 players in a tournament match can fail to agree on the game score.
We did have one minor incident last night - in a hill/hill match, a player made the winning 9-ball shot, and apparently the cue ball came back and hit the tip of his cue at some point after the shot when the cue ball was still moving. Another player witnessing the match told him that was a foul, but the opponent did not call it on him. I told the person who witnessed the foul that as an observer, he is not allowed to call the foul in a match he is not in and that it is up to the opponent to call the foul. The opponent said it was his own fault for not paying attention and calling it, so he let the other player who committed the foul off the hook. I feel I made the correct decision by staying out of it and leaving it up to the 2 players in the match.
In hindsight, I'm thinking I should have spoken privately to the player who committed the foul and questioned him as to whether he has any integrity to do the right thing and call the foul on himself when he knows good and well it was a foul? This is an older guy, a gambler, a pretty good player, has been around the block, and has developed a reputation in here that he'll get away with anything he can to win, particularly against players he figures won't question him and may not call a foul on him. If I remember, I may have that conversation with him next time he comes in. Is that appropriate at this point, or is it too late now to bring it up?
Why didn't I do this a long time ago? Absolutely no incidents occurred all night and it was a breeze from a TD's perspective. We still incorporate rack your own balls and a 9-ball made on the break is spotted. Also, only a one race final regardless of whether the undefeated player or the one-loss player wins that set. That can potentially speed up as to when the tournament ends and when I can get out of here.
Now the only conflicts I'll have to settle are two players that have a disagreement on the current game score of the match, and disagreements over whether the lowest ball was contacted first. It's amazing to me how 2 players in a tournament match can fail to agree on the game score.
We did have one minor incident last night - in a hill/hill match, a player made the winning 9-ball shot, and apparently the cue ball came back and hit the tip of his cue at some point after the shot when the cue ball was still moving. Another player witnessing the match told him that was a foul, but the opponent did not call it on him. I told the person who witnessed the foul that as an observer, he is not allowed to call the foul in a match he is not in and that it is up to the opponent to call the foul. The opponent said it was his own fault for not paying attention and calling it, so he let the other player who committed the foul off the hook. I feel I made the correct decision by staying out of it and leaving it up to the 2 players in the match.
In hindsight, I'm thinking I should have spoken privately to the player who committed the foul and questioned him as to whether he has any integrity to do the right thing and call the foul on himself when he knows good and well it was a foul? This is an older guy, a gambler, a pretty good player, has been around the block, and has developed a reputation in here that he'll get away with anything he can to win, particularly against players he figures won't question him and may not call a foul on him. If I remember, I may have that conversation with him next time he comes in. Is that appropriate at this point, or is it too late now to bring it up?
Last edited:
