Physical/Mental endurance at the IPT

[recoveryjones]

Let's face it, it's a dog fight out there.Every game is crucial because games won/lost factor into vital winning percentages.

It's my understanding that the players have to each play 5 matches today , sometimes back to back to back as Coliin Colenso stated sometimes with very little rest in between matches. This can be physically and mentally grueling.

Do you think some of the older legends will tire?
Do you think young fit players like Immonen, Feijen, Hohmann etc who work on their physical fitness religiously have an advantage?
What about the mental toughness of a Ralf Soquet?

With all the pressure, the big money, keep your card etc, this is truely a marathon.
RJ

 

[cuechick]

I absolutely think the players who are more fit have a big advantage! Not only does it give you an advantage with stamina but a mental edge as well.
Early on when I traveled with Jennifer Barretta to tournaments, she did well in later rounds when more skilled opponents (at the time, she was still fairly new) fell apart. Her level of fitness was far superior to anyone in that room and she could play with them same focus and intensity at 8pm that she did at 9am!

I am also curious to see if the players that had yesterday off do better? I think that is an advantage though the other players have momentum and are now more use to the tables?

 

[recoveryjones]

Very good points Cuechick. Some players had a days rest and others are right back into the heat. Should be interesting.
RJ

 

[jsp]

That's exactly why I picked an orcullo and pagulayan final. Not only are they young and fit, but they both have the true mentality of a gambler. The players who've experienced very long gambling sessions have the edge (Filipinos).

 

[bandido]

That's exactly why I picked an orcullo and pagulayan final. Not only are they young and fit, but they both have the true mentality of a gambler. The players who've experienced very long gambling sessions have the edge (Filipinos).

Also, the game time there of 10am-10pm is the peak for money matches here (late evening to early morning the following day). If they get to the later rounds there, their body clocks will have already had adjusted to time there. Sort of accidentally unfairly stacked to their favor, isn't it?

 

[TheOne]

I stated this in another post, IMO this takes away Efrens edge, no matter how many times he has played all day or 2 days. This is high stakes pressure sets where every frame counts for a week straight. The first 2 days of the 14.1 event required players to play 4 matches and 3 matches each day, about 2-3 hours each, with most players finishing about 3-4am. I've never felt so tired and drained, the next day was 3 longer races to 150 followed by another day of 2 races to 200 - but I was dead by then! IMO its no coincidence that the younger players where the ones left standing at the end.

I can't imagine how the winner of this event will feel after the week, I'm starting to fancy Alex P strongly, he's been there and done it time and again, he's young, small, gambles and I would be very suprised if he's not in the last 6

 

[bandido]

I stated this in another post, IMO this takes away Efrens edge, no matter how many times he has played all day or 2 days. This is high stakes pressure sets where every frame counts for a week straight. The first 2 days of the 14.1 event required players to play 4 matches and 3 matches each day, about 2-3 hours each, with most players finishing about 3-4am. I've never felt so tired and drained, the next day was 3 longer races to 150 followed by another day of 2 races to 200 - but I was dead by then! IMO its no coincidence that the younger players where the ones left standing at the end.

I can't imagine how the winner of this event will feel after the week, I'm starting to fancy Alex P strongly, he's been there and done it time and again, he's young, small, gambles and I would be very suprised if he's not in the last 6

LOL Efren does these long hours everyday. If not on the pool table, it's on a card or mahjong table or exhibition matches and private rooms/parties of government officials that invite him!

 

[TheOne]

LOL Efren does these long hours everyday. If not on the pool table, it's on a card or mahjong table or exhibition matches and private rooms/parties of government officials that invite him!

LOL playing cards and doing exhibitions is hardly the same as playing 10 hours a day against other world beaters in the IPT for 350k lol

I hope I'm wrong but the fatc is a 20 year old is going to have an advantage over any 50 year old in an event like this, I hope I'm wrong I really do. In fact if Efren win's this is will just go to show how much better than everyone else he really is and IMO will be his greatest ever triumph

 

[Keith Buck]

I would think that the players who play relatively quickly might gain an advantage as well.

It might be the difference between having a thirty minute break between each match and having to go directly to the next match after finishing.

 

[Johnnyt]

The won/lost has to put a lot of pressure on them every game. If you want to keep advancing you better not coast when your leading 7-1 like you can in other type tournaments. Johnnyt

 

[Snapshot9]

Stamina

I have been wondering about this too. They say Pool is a young man's game, and stamina will be definitely a factor today. We might see the older players (over 50) start to drop off in performance on the 5:30 and 8:00 pm matches.

But another factor, regardless of age, is how well a player takes care of themself. If they eat right, get enough sleep, and don't drink, I think they will be able to focus better and longer.

I would imagine every player is sticking to a straight routine for this tournament, especially with the money involved.

 

[rackmsuckr]

I have been wondering about this too. They say Pool is a young man's game, and stamina will be definitely a factor today. We might see the older players (over 50) start to drop off in performance on the 5:30 and 8:00 pm matches.

But another factor, regardless of age, is how well a player takes care of themself. If they eat right, get enough sleep, and don't drink, I think they will be able to focus better and longer.

I would imagine every player is sticking to a straight routine for this tournament, especially with the money involved.

Ha! I am disproving your theory, as I got better my last match. Although, by then the jitters were gone and I got warmed up. Shouldn't pool always be played at night? LOL.

Mike Z. made an amazing comment that he was going to start bicycling! (And hopefully quit smoking!) because his legs are sore today and he has seen the light. He needs to get in better shape to withstand the grueling schedule.

He asked me if my legs were sore and I said, "No, but then I was never shooting", lol.

 

[cuechick]

I will be surprised now if Sarah can make a ball in Peoria? Though I do think she exercises...
This event is not just a pool tournament but an marathon!

I some how think Efren despite his age (How old is he anyway?) has an edge cause he is one of the few who has played for bigger stakes than this and has so much experience. I think it is not just playing but playing under pressure that fatigues you mentally as much as physically.

 

[bandido]

I will be surprised now if Sarah can make a ball in Peoria? Though I do think she exercises...
This event is not just a pool tournament but an marathon!

I some how think Efren despite his age (How old is he anyway?) has an edge cause he is one of the few who has played for bigger stakes than this and has so much experience. I think it is not just playing but playing under pressure that fatigues you mentally as much as physically.

Efren will be 52 in August. As I've said in another thread. No gym or 6hrs practice sessions can equal the benefit gained from multiple long money matches. It gets your eyes, mind and right muscle groups used to it. It becomes normal body demand and environment thus one less factor in this kind of tournament to worry about.

 

[TheOne]

Efren will be 52 in August. As I've said in another thread. No gym or 6hrs practice sessions can equal the benefit gained from multiple long money matches. It gets your eyes, mind and right muscle groups used to it. It becomes normal body demand and environment thus one less factor in this kind of tournament to worry about.

I'm starting to worry that Efren may prove me wrong afterall. I sure wouldn't mind if he does of course, what an acheivment it would be at 52 to win an event like this!

36 players, I still think he might fall short and you young guys will fill up the final 6 but we will see...

 

[watchez]

Efren is still the favorite. I don't care if they are playing during the day, night, long races or short races. His skill at rotation makes shape and getting around a table with 15 balls on it to get out for a game of 8 ball a joke. Then add in that he can out think anyone on a pool table, I don't care how old he is or how tired his legs are.

 

[sniper]

Efren is still the favorite. I don't care if they are playing during the day, night, long races or short races. His skill at rotation makes shape and getting around a table with 15 balls on it to get out for a game of 8 ball a joke. Then add in that he can out think anyone on a pool table, I don't care how old he is or how tired his legs are.

Your dead on watchez, Efren is certainly my favorite to take it down. I also would watch out for some of his countrymen, namely Pagulayan and Manalo who are hitting them pretty good at the moment.

As for the endurance part of it, I imagine it is starting to become more of a factor now that were deeper into the tournament, the first couple days players probably didn't feel it to much but now after doing it for four days in a row it is probably taking a stronger effect on them.

 

[Bob Jewett]

.. It's my understanding that the players have to each play 5 matches today , sometimes back to back to back as Coliin Colenso stated sometimes with very little rest in between matches. ...

In the rounds with five players per group, each player skips one of the five rounds of play. Three of those players will have their byes in the middle of play and get a break, but two of them will have to play four consecutive matches.

In the rounds with six players per group, every player plays in all five rounds:

10am -- 2.5 hours
12:30pm -- 2.5 hours
3pm -- 2.5 hours
5:30pm -- 2.5 hours
8pm -- until closing

Which points up a possibility. If two players in a group are known to both be slow, their match could be scheduled for the last round.

If a player consistently runs his matches out to 2 1/4 houirs, he will have no time to eat or rest. I think this is a good penalty for slow play.

Is there food in the Green Room? No food is sold close to the tournament -- you have a 10-minute walk to get to the food court, or a shorter walk to get to some fancier restaurants.

 

[jjinfla]

Efren is truly the exception.

He came to the KOTH straight from a hospital bed and looked terrrible. Lost his first match to Ray Martin. The he caught a gear and never looked back.

Nick Varner is another player who is surprising me. Two years ago he had a heart attack and had bypass surgery but he is still playing well.

Jake

 

[danlamb]

endurance

The physical and mental endurance can take a toll and these players will have to keep up with the times if the want to hang around.