Qualifiers for the Olhausen World Tournament 14.1
- Thread starter DP.News
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Amsterdam Billiards is having one this weekend but it did not make the poster.
The NAPL will run a qualifier on Saturday, June 22nd at one of its host rooms, Amsterdam Billiards & Bar in Union Square, New York City. This unique experience gives one dedicated amateur a chance to play in a World Championship amongst professionals from all around the world.
The winner of the qualifier will get a guaranteed spot in the event and a paid entry (worth $580) to the 14.1 World Straight Pool Tournament.
Is anyone from AZB going to that one? To watch or play?
I wonder if there will be streaming of any of the matches. Does anyone know?
The NAPL will run a qualifier on Saturday, June 22nd at one of its host rooms, Amsterdam Billiards & Bar in Union Square, New York City. This unique experience gives one dedicated amateur a chance to play in a World Championship amongst professionals from all around the world.
The winner of the qualifier will get a guaranteed spot in the event and a paid entry (worth $580) to the 14.1 World Straight Pool Tournament.
Is anyone from AZB going to that one? To watch or play?
I wonder if there will be streaming of any of the matches. Does anyone know?
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Congratulations to Jonathan Smith, house pro at Society Billiards in NYC!!!
Jon is an ace straight pool player and flies under the radar. He ran 10 racks last year practicing on a Diamond table at Society.
Jon is an ace straight pool player and flies under the radar. He ran 10 racks last year practicing on a Diamond table at Society.
I need some help guys.
My friend is playing in this event and needs info badly.
1- What time is the players meeting?
2- What cueball are they using?
Contacting dragon has been ZERO help.
Anyone know?
Thanks all.
Chris
My friend is playing in this event and needs info badly.
1- What time is the players meeting?
2- What cueball are they using?
Contacting dragon has been ZERO help.
Anyone know?
Thanks all.
Chris
Anybody (Eddie) that can hold on in his last three matches where his opponents scored 95, 94, 95 to his 100 deserves to win a qualifying spot!
Bernie.
Anybody (Eddie) that can hold on in his last three matches where his opponents scored 95, 94, 95 to his 100 deserves to win a qualifying spot!
Bernie.
thanx mister, was a squeaker
Hi folks -- had to attend to some personal items these last several days, but wanted to get back and give an update here.
Couple of things:
1. Ed Liddawi -- and Sandcastle Billiards -- are both AWESOME! Ed and I hit it off right as soon as I walked in the door. (And who wouldn't -- Ed's that kind of guy -- very personable and cut from "down to earth" stock.) The outside of the building is pretty non-descript -- big yellow "ex-warehouse" type of building right off of US Rt 1 South in Edison, NJ. If you're not looking close, it's very possible to drive right by it. (Note to Ed: might want to invest in a little better / more-obviously-visible signage outside.) However, when you walk in, holy cow! The first thing you are greeted with is a big plasma TV with a light-colored leather "wraparound" couch. Ed usually has some Accu-Stats match displaying on this TV, so you're hit right in the face with "serious pool." Next, your eye is pulled in the direction of this "sea" of tournament blue Simonis-covered Gold Crowns. When I walk in, for some reason, that music theme from The Color of Money when Eddie Felson first walks into the tournament room in Atlantic City, and sees all those meticulously set up tables for the first time, was playing in my head. In Sandcastle's case, the sign hanging overhead was for the Accu-Stats arena in the back, not any advertisement for the tournament like in TCOM.
Eddie and I engaged in some small talk before he gave me a table to practice on. The tables play extremely well, by the way, and I was enjoying the sensation of loosening up my arm, and then some practice racks of 14.1.
2. As people started to filter in (both tournament soldiers I recognize -- e.g. Paul C., Dennis S., and Eddie C. -- as well as regulars), I felt the nerves -- more so than any other time. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why, as I play at larger tournaments (e.g. Super Billiards Expo open 10-ball, Joss Tour, Predator Tour, etc.). However, 14.1 means a LOT to me, so the perfectionist part of me was gripping me by the throat, commanding, "you better not make a fool of yourself -- this is your game afterall!" (Note to self: at this point, I was done -- because I let that feeling take hold later, instead of taking a step back, digging to see where it was coming from, and then sloughing it off.)
3. I had a nip and tuck match with Paul Cooney, who played a very conservative game against me. I did start out with a bang, clearing a couple racks, but then as "the rail" started to pile up, those nerves kicked in big time. And why? It's not like I'm not used to people watching me play. Later on in the match, I was making uncharacteristic misses, and leaving Paul shots. Paul did what he had to do -- run balls, and then play safe when he exhausted all the shots he was comfortable in. He started to get a lead on me, and I was never able to catch up. So I go to the 1-loss column. I made a mental note that something -- something I couldn't put my finger on -- was wrong with my stroke.
4. In my second match, pretty much the same thing -- although I made a couple fantastic breakshots (if I don't say so myself) including the "Efren bank-break" shot that he played against Mike Sigel in the 2000 US Open. Yes, I called it -- smash-banked the object ball cross-side, cue ball up table, off the head rail and off the side rail, into the pack. Ran some more balls, but then... uncharacteristic miss on an easy shot. Again, John N. did what he had to do -- run balls, play good safes, and "froze" me. It's not like I didn't have chances. I did. I just didn't capitalize.
5. So I get a table of my own, and I re-address this mental note I made about "something not quite right" with my stroke. And after about 30 minutes, I found it. It was only after my nerves calmed down, that I found out I was rushing my stroke. Wasn't in my normal stroke timing, which is a slow pullback, and then smooth cue delivery. A jerk had crept into my stroke (and yes, har-har, that jerk is me
). Spent the time to work it out, and I'm glad I did. Strong mental notes made to make sure that doesn't happen again.6. Spent the rest of the time watching matches, chatting with Eddie L., etc. Wasn't surprised at all to see Dennis Spears and Eddie Culhane win those two spots -- they were playing great!
In summary, folks, if you've never been to Sandcastle, you NEED to go. This is a pool maven's dream. And you couldn't ask for a finer host in Ed Liddawi, either. Classy, classy, classy.
As Ahhhhnold once famously said, "I'll be back."
Congrats to Dennis & Eddie C. for their wins, and to Eddie L. for running a smooth event that everyone would want to play in!
-Sean
Thanks for the great review Sean, and I sorry you didn't fare very well. It happens, shake it off and learn from it !!!
You hit it Spot On, Ed Lidawwi is a class act and runs a great room !!!
You played John N huh, we used to play all the time. We used to play in the same room here on Long Island. He had signed up for the 14.1 league at Raxx but never attended. He plays a good game !!!
I didn't fair too well at Amsterdam either, lost my first match to Bob Madenjian. Then on the loser side I won one match then had to play Holden Chin whom I play all the time and can never beat. I believe I had that mentality going into the match with him. And he got me as predicted.
I'm real glad you gave it a go !!!
Steve
You hit it Spot On, Ed Lidawwi is a class act and runs a great room !!!
You played John N huh, we used to play all the time. We used to play in the same room here on Long Island. He had signed up for the 14.1 league at Raxx but never attended. He plays a good game !!!
I didn't fair too well at Amsterdam either, lost my first match to Bob Madenjian. Then on the loser side I won one match then had to play Holden Chin whom I play all the time and can never beat. I believe I had that mentality going into the match with him. And he got me as predicted.
I'm real glad you gave it a go !!!
Steve