I was invited to do stats, commentate, and write this article for the King of the 8's Round Robin Tournament at Bullshooters on Saturday, Feb. 7th. I innovated, and created a new and unique statistical tracking system for assessing player performance for pool/billiards. Based on recent reactions, I foresee this to be the future of pool. So, here's my assessment of play and matches.
Jason Crugar showed a very good level of consistency against Derrick Thomin's more erractic play. But, Derrick took the lead early at 3 games to 2 and wouldn't relinquish it. Jason even pocketed more balls (Jason's 56 vs Derrick's 39), yet Derrick made the key shots when needed. For example, when the match was tied at 3-3, Jason missed a shot on the 9, and Derrick snatched the opportunity to pull ahead 4-3. Then Derrick broke and made a 2, 9 combination (score 5-3) and followed that with a break and run to make the score 6-3. Jason battled back the next two games to close the gap (6-5). But Derrick made a 3, 9 and 4, 9 combination to regain the 3 game gap and put him on the hill. Jason once again fought his way back to within 1 game (8-7) but missed an 8 ball, allowing Derrick to seal the deal for a 9-7 victory. Derrick continued on to be front runner winning his first 5 or 6 rounds, going the longest before losing a round. Statistically Jason outperformed him in every way - shooting 80%, breaking 71% (5 of 7) compared to Derrick's 67% shooting and 38% breaking (3 of 8). But Derrick overcame that by making the shots at the right time.
Mike Howerton started with a solid break and run against undefeated Derrick Thomin. He then, made no mistakes to win in the next game (score 2-0). This changed when Mike made an egregious error on the 9 ball, allowing Derrick to get on the board and then win a couple more (score 3-2). They traded games back and forth until they were tied at 6-6. Solid play vaulted Mike forward to a 9-6 victory. Mike shot strong at 84% with 43% breaking (3 of 7).
Andy Davis started strong out the gate against Carlos Abalos with a break and run, followed by another one, followed by another break and run in the third game that was cut short by missing a simple 4 ball shot. That error weighed heavily on Andy's mind as Carlos amassed wins in the next 4 games bringing the score to 4-2. Andy showed his mettle by winning the next 2 to tie it up 4-4. But Carlos eked out the next 5 games to win the match 9-4. The match could've been closer than the score showed with Carlos shooting 81% and breaking 50% (4 of 8) to Andy's 78% shooting and breaking 60% (3 of 5). Sometimes the final score doesn't reflect the true tale of the tape.
Finals Match - Carlos Abalos vs Jude Espinoza
Carlos won the first game quickly, but gave it back by making the 8 and scratching in the next game (1-1). When Jude hooked himself and fouled on the 2 ball, Carlos ran it out (2-1). A bit of good defense, a bit of erratic play, and an occasional run out allowed Carlos to gallop to an 8-1 lead. Jude didn't give up, and thus made a couple of 9 ball combinations and a 9 ball carom and a little run out to bring the score to a respectable 8-5 score. The two players jockeyed back and forth in the next game, but eventually Carlos seized his opportunity to conclude the evening. The victory elevated Carlos to be crowned King of the 8's! Carlos had a very respectable 80% shooting percentage and slightly above 50% breaking percentage for the live stream matches. He also executed some artful defense and anti-defensive play, when needed.
Court Jester went to Derrick Thomin for his entertainment and comedy value; especially with regards to his AZPoolScene.com live stream matches. Derrick also got the award for biggest fan support with his Prescott contingency, some who also traveled down to Bullshooters, and with his family support from Ohio watching the live stream.
Long shot award was given to Jude Espinoza who was all but mathematically eliminated from the finals. Jerry Stuckart assessed all the scenarios that would have to happen in order for Jude to make it to the finals. The situation was more convoluted than the chances of the NFL Philadelphia Eagles being able to make it to the playoffs. Mike Howerton would have to lose his next match to Brady Valentino (who had the fewest match victories) and Derrick Thomin (who was undefeated through his first 5 or 6 rounds) would have to lose to Todd Dilley. Jude would have to win his next two matches. Even still there were other factors needed. That would elicit the tie-breaker whereby all of the total games won would be added together to determine who would challenge Carlos Abalos in the finals. Like the Eagles, Jude made it. But both Jude and the Eagles lost to a hometown favorite.
Valiant Knight went to Brady Valentino who was bagelled throughout much of the tournament. Yet he never gave up, and managed to step up to the challenge to play spoiler against Mike Howerton in a hard fought battle of titans. Mike played strong throughout the tournament, except for having a case of the rattles (not being rattled, but just rattling a couple of balls in the pocket).
Regards to Justin Pressior and Ken Contrell whose trail I wasn't able to catch up to.
Congratulations once again to Carlos Abalos for his new reign as King of the 8's!
Written by John Casey
Director of an A+ pool league in Bullshooters using this new rating system.
Article has been submitted to other sources as well.
Jason Crugar showed a very good level of consistency against Derrick Thomin's more erractic play. But, Derrick took the lead early at 3 games to 2 and wouldn't relinquish it. Jason even pocketed more balls (Jason's 56 vs Derrick's 39), yet Derrick made the key shots when needed. For example, when the match was tied at 3-3, Jason missed a shot on the 9, and Derrick snatched the opportunity to pull ahead 4-3. Then Derrick broke and made a 2, 9 combination (score 5-3) and followed that with a break and run to make the score 6-3. Jason battled back the next two games to close the gap (6-5). But Derrick made a 3, 9 and 4, 9 combination to regain the 3 game gap and put him on the hill. Jason once again fought his way back to within 1 game (8-7) but missed an 8 ball, allowing Derrick to seal the deal for a 9-7 victory. Derrick continued on to be front runner winning his first 5 or 6 rounds, going the longest before losing a round. Statistically Jason outperformed him in every way - shooting 80%, breaking 71% (5 of 7) compared to Derrick's 67% shooting and 38% breaking (3 of 8). But Derrick overcame that by making the shots at the right time.
Mike Howerton started with a solid break and run against undefeated Derrick Thomin. He then, made no mistakes to win in the next game (score 2-0). This changed when Mike made an egregious error on the 9 ball, allowing Derrick to get on the board and then win a couple more (score 3-2). They traded games back and forth until they were tied at 6-6. Solid play vaulted Mike forward to a 9-6 victory. Mike shot strong at 84% with 43% breaking (3 of 7).
Andy Davis started strong out the gate against Carlos Abalos with a break and run, followed by another one, followed by another break and run in the third game that was cut short by missing a simple 4 ball shot. That error weighed heavily on Andy's mind as Carlos amassed wins in the next 4 games bringing the score to 4-2. Andy showed his mettle by winning the next 2 to tie it up 4-4. But Carlos eked out the next 5 games to win the match 9-4. The match could've been closer than the score showed with Carlos shooting 81% and breaking 50% (4 of 8) to Andy's 78% shooting and breaking 60% (3 of 5). Sometimes the final score doesn't reflect the true tale of the tape.
Finals Match - Carlos Abalos vs Jude Espinoza
Carlos won the first game quickly, but gave it back by making the 8 and scratching in the next game (1-1). When Jude hooked himself and fouled on the 2 ball, Carlos ran it out (2-1). A bit of good defense, a bit of erratic play, and an occasional run out allowed Carlos to gallop to an 8-1 lead. Jude didn't give up, and thus made a couple of 9 ball combinations and a 9 ball carom and a little run out to bring the score to a respectable 8-5 score. The two players jockeyed back and forth in the next game, but eventually Carlos seized his opportunity to conclude the evening. The victory elevated Carlos to be crowned King of the 8's! Carlos had a very respectable 80% shooting percentage and slightly above 50% breaking percentage for the live stream matches. He also executed some artful defense and anti-defensive play, when needed.
Court Jester went to Derrick Thomin for his entertainment and comedy value; especially with regards to his AZPoolScene.com live stream matches. Derrick also got the award for biggest fan support with his Prescott contingency, some who also traveled down to Bullshooters, and with his family support from Ohio watching the live stream.
Long shot award was given to Jude Espinoza who was all but mathematically eliminated from the finals. Jerry Stuckart assessed all the scenarios that would have to happen in order for Jude to make it to the finals. The situation was more convoluted than the chances of the NFL Philadelphia Eagles being able to make it to the playoffs. Mike Howerton would have to lose his next match to Brady Valentino (who had the fewest match victories) and Derrick Thomin (who was undefeated through his first 5 or 6 rounds) would have to lose to Todd Dilley. Jude would have to win his next two matches. Even still there were other factors needed. That would elicit the tie-breaker whereby all of the total games won would be added together to determine who would challenge Carlos Abalos in the finals. Like the Eagles, Jude made it. But both Jude and the Eagles lost to a hometown favorite.
Valiant Knight went to Brady Valentino who was bagelled throughout much of the tournament. Yet he never gave up, and managed to step up to the challenge to play spoiler against Mike Howerton in a hard fought battle of titans. Mike played strong throughout the tournament, except for having a case of the rattles (not being rattled, but just rattling a couple of balls in the pocket).
Regards to Justin Pressior and Ken Contrell whose trail I wasn't able to catch up to.
Congratulations once again to Carlos Abalos for his new reign as King of the 8's!
Written by John Casey
Director of an A+ pool league in Bullshooters using this new rating system.
Article has been submitted to other sources as well.
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He played great all day.
