So i got a letter in the mail to play in US amateur championships....

bazkook said:
I realize you have to be a very solid player to win the national championships but I would be happy to even win a local qualifier. Can anyone who has played at a qualifier at Mr. Cue's II in Atlanta comment on the speed of the players at a qualifier? I'm probably going to give it a try regardless of the other players' speed but it would be nice to know what kind of players I might be up against.
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I was at Mr. Cue's II in 2005 but that was the main event (damn, six years ago already). Atlanta has solid players so expect a strong crowd. There will be plenty of great players who don't play because A) they either don't know about it, B) are turned off because the APA's name is associated with it, or C) the main reason of there not being any prize money.

Hard to quantify it. Figure the qualifier will be the same strength of a high level local tournament excluding any showings of a local pro or top road player.
 
cardiac kid said:
Only one piece of advice. Play the balls on the table. Forget about who your opponent is! If you worry prematurely, you'll talk yourself out of playing your best. Or playing at all. Go and have fun.

Lyn
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Thanks for that piece of advice. I'm been working a lot on my mental game for the past few months and I think I've come a long way. I don't get distracted by things I can't control nor do I get angry when I miss or my opponent gets a lucky roll. I also play smarter by not attempting crazy shots and shooting defense when necessary. I believe that at a level when there is relatively little difference in playing ability, the mental aspects of pool really start to come into play.
 
I've played at Mr Cues the last two years. Most of the players are average players (B level and below). 10% of the players are strong (B+ and above).

There are multiple backets. If I remember correctly, 8 brackets with around 110 players. This is a blind draw. So, you could possibly draw a bracket with weak players and do well.

I can't believe you're even hesitating. Pull the trigger and have a good time.

I'll see you at Mr Cues 2

Bob P.
 
chevybob20 said:
I've played at Mr Cues the last two years. Most of the players are average players (B level and below). 10% of the players are strong (B+ and above).

There are multiple backets. If I remember correctly, 8 brackets with around 110 players. This is a blind draw. So, you could possibly draw a bracket with weak players and do well.

I can't believe you're even hesitating. Pull the trigger and have a good time.

I'll see you at Mr Cues 2

Bob P.
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Oh I'm definitely playing in the qualifier if I'm able to. I turn 25 the week before the qualifier so if I win, I can consider it a late birthday gift. :D
 
Anyone going to BUCK's Billiards in Raleigh, NC for the US amateur? Thinking about going there this year with some friends. They go every year and have a great time. Ron
 
bazkook said:
Oh I'm definitely playing in the qualifier if I'm able to. I turn 25 the week before the qualifier so if I win, I can consider it a late birthday gift. :D
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the crowd at cues to qualifier can be very strong depends a lot on your bracket. There will be some weak players and quite a few very strong players that can multiple racks on you. Try to win the lag and pick your strongest game to start. If you are mainly an 8 ball player you definately want to win the lag and start with 5 games of 8 ball. Good luck to you and see you at cues 2. Oh by the way the tables are quick they they are 9 foot but with 760 on them.
 
Eric is absolutely correct!

You better play jam up if you expect to qualify. Sure you might get a couple of low B or C players in your local qualifier draw but they are usually eliminated pretty fast leaving the A players. Like Eric said the winners (even at the local qualifier level) are usually good enough to cash in a open event. Better bring your "A" game! :thumbup:
 
Just wanted to add in that the winner gets more than entry to US Open. They also get air and hotel. My bud Ray from Miami snapped it off last year. The week before Tampa he was at my house playing on my triple shimmed gold crown and laid down a 4 and a number of 3s on me playing 9 and 8ball. He came prepared and put in huge hrs last year getting ready for Collegiate nationals and the US Amateur.

Here's another story ill tell about Ray at the US Amateur. So Ray hates it when I get into my mode where i discuss whose playing. My attitude is that I always am curious and want to know. He hates it and refuses to learn anything about anyone bc he thinks it makes him weak to ponder who people are and what they have accomplished. I mean sometimes it unavoidable, like when you draw Corey at the Seminole events, but he specifically told me to not discuss the draw or even the player list with him at the US Amateur. So that Friday at Nationals we walk in and we both start warming up. I look over and Ray has chosen the table with Travis Gunn and another former champ, i forget now who. I think it was Parks. Anyways...i walk over and say oh hey i see you chose the table with the two former champs..nice call to warm up. Man did he get HOT at me. He was furious. So I was like oh sh1t! DOH! So Ray proceeds to pound a few shots into the rail while hes steaming at me at me and then he manages to settle in and runs out. And then breaks and runs 3 racks cleanly, good tight position and he really starts laying down monster breaks. It was at that moment I turned to a few guys from Houston that were there and said to them...yeah my buddy Ray over there is gonna be hard to beat this weekend. I could just see it that he was max confidence in his abilities that weekend.

Anyways, what these people have said is very true. If you dont come with a strong shortstop, Open speed you can forget about snapping it off. The field is loaded with good players. Every year too the field seems to get tougher. Ive been three times to nationals and have finished in the lower half of the field 2/3 times. I think im going to stop looking at the brackets and player list too. :thumbup:
 
The Chipsta said:
Room is paid for 3 nights. No travel $$. You get a polo shirt when you check in at Shooters in Tampa.

If you have to ask "what's in it for me?" or "where does all the money go?", then don't bother filling out the form.
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The winners also get an entry into a pro tournament , like the U.S. open
 
I received my packet yesterday and will be playing in one of the Q's in Florida ....can't decide which one though .....
 
bazkook said:
I realize you have to be a very solid player to win the national championships but I would be happy to even win a local qualifier. Can anyone who has played at a qualifier at Mr. Cue's II in Atlanta comment on the speed of the players at a qualifier? I'm probably going to give it a try regardless of the other players' speed but it would be nice to know what kind of players I might be up against.
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One of the things you will want to know is that MORE than one person "qualifies" for the championship match at each qualifer. It depends upon how many people are in the qualifier but many times there are a few people who make the cut in each qualifier.

JoeyA
 
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