Small milestone for me

D

duckie

GregH
Silver Member
There is this place I play at times that has a 8 ball tourney on Friday and Saturday nights. Its a handicapp type, but the system is fairly accurate. They use a modified single elmination type, meaning that for 10 bucks, I'm gonna get at least two matches.

Also, I've come to realize that I will not get any better by just practicing, it also takes competition.

So, this Friday was my second time playing. There was a 32 palyer field and I play at a B level, there are alot of B's . I got spanked, badly. I was so bummed. I put alot of time in practice, but there is one thing that practice does not have.. a opponent. I have learned what the term defense means in 8 ball. I got hooked so much, I started feeling like a fish.

Anyway, Saturday rolls around, I'm like not feeling the love, meaning I didn't want to get spanked again. But, you gotta start somewhere, plus I learned alot from friday night. Things I never would have from just practicing.

There was field of 25 players mostly B or what they call B++. I made it through the winners side to the final's. It was like almost 12 at night. so the other guy and I split the pot. I got 90 bucks, plus, since I'm new there , a few looks, like where this guy come from. It was really sweet.

I was/am so jazzed. Just thought I share this. Competiton showed my weak areas, areas now that are gonna be the focus of my practice.
 
^^ congrats. Yeah, it's funny how tournaments or gambling force you to figure out the holes in your game and adapt. It's a nice feeling getting to that point where you can compete. The only thing is... I think quitting before midnight is kinda wussy unless you're like 85 years old :D It an even nicer feeling to be able to say 'I won a tournament', you coulda played on and gotten 1st. But anyway good job. Keep at it.
 
I didn't want to quit.......I wanted the top spot. I wasn't the one that asked to split the pot. In all honesty...the money didn't matter. I wanted to play my best game. He wasn't willing, that's why he asked to split the pot.

But........being new to the place and there were other factors in involved like the owner wanted to go home and so did the other guy, that sometimes playing nice is the right thing to do in the long run, I mean this a local, friendly place and I want to get along to a certain degree.

I did say to the guy that this leaves a unanswered questioned that must be settled later.

The real point being, practice and competition go hand and hand. You can't do one without the other. As others have stated, there's no magic. Its knowing yourself, your equipment. Then its reading the table. Seeing what the table gives you to work with and going from there.
 
Splitting was the right thing to do, especially if the room owner wanted to beat feet. He'll remember it in the long run and the worst thing in the world would have been to annoy him over 15-20 bucks.
 
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