Souquet vs Fu 2006 WPC - The Double Hill Rack

sjm

sjm

Older and Wiser
Silver Member
When a semifinal match at the WPC goes double hill at the WPC, you can cut the tension with a knife, but when the rack comes down to safety play, the tension is almost unbearable, as you'll see in this gem from the 2006 WPC, Souquet 10 Fu 10 in the race to 11 for a spot in the final.

The sequence that decided the match is one worthy of the board's consideration, as each decision the players had to make was a difficult one.

What do you think?
 

Attachments

  • souquet 2006 wpc.jpg
    souquet 2006 wpc.jpg
    97.6 KB · Views: 643
sjm,

You're right about the tension. Both players were in top form and it's a shame either one had to be eliminated.

Souquet's shot was not only difficult, but I was quite surprised when he played shape between the 6 and side pocket. No room for error.
 
shinobi said:
sjm,

You're right about the tension. Both players were in top form and it's a shame either one had to be eliminated.

Souquet's shot was not only difficult, but I was quite surprised when he played shape between the 6 and side pocket. No room for error.
Click to expand...

Some questions that I think are worth considering are:

1) Did Souquet go for enough on his first safety?
2) Should Fu have considered kicking at the five as he'd have had a good chance to not leave a shot?
3) Was it automatic that Souqet would shoot the five after Fu's safety or should he have also considered a safety?

Just a very interesting rack that I'm still thinking about.
 
Scaramouche said:
2006 WPC ? Semi ? Hill-Hill ? Souquet vs Fu
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JWumux4O0pM
Click to expand...

Thanks, if I'd had more time to invest in it, I'd have presented the whole rack, which is among the more interesting you'll ever see at such a critical juncture of a world championship.

It's a great sampling of Souquet at his very finest.
 
Souquet's word, copied from his website:

My opponent in the semi-finals was another player from Taiwan, Fu Che-Wei. On table 2, the match turned out to be a real thriller, offering everything what billiards can offer. Many safety shots, many rail shots, a few aces and pure drama until the very end. At 9-6, I could already smell the final, but my opponent delivered a great fight and came back to 9-9. We both won our breaks and at 10-10, I had the advantage to break. But the table was very difficult and I had to solve two balls and a very difficult entry shot. I solved the first problem and had the perfect angle to solve the 5 and the 6 ball when potting the 4 ball. But de to a bad contact, the balls could not be pocketed and from here, we played a 20 minute safety battle. When the 5 ball was open for the first time, I decided to play the aggressive option, pocketed the ball and was compensated with a good position on the 6 ball. I pocketed the remaining 3 balls, won 11-10 and had entered the WC final for the third time.
 
sjm said:
Some questions that I think are worth considering are:

1) Did Souquet go for enough on his first safety?
2) Should Fu have considered kicking at the five as he'd have had a good chance to not leave a shot?
3) Was it automatic that Souqet would shoot the five after Fu's safety or should he have also considered a safety?

Just a very interesting rack that I'm still thinking about.
Click to expand...

I think they both made the right choices during the great safety battle that ensued on the 5 ball. The final shot by Ralf was not automatic by any means. I would say it was 50-50 at best. Maybe he just tired of the safety battle and decided to go for it. It was a great shot under intense pressure.
 
This is so neat!

I love it! A rack of pool broken down ala "The Zapruder Film". If ESPN's SportsCenter can show highlights of plays and break them down, why can't we?

I can't, because I'm not smart enough to set these image things on here like SJM can. Where did they even come from? So, I'm "railbirding" this thread. But enjoying it.

How'd he do that?:confused:
 
sjm said:
When a semifinal match at the WPC goes double hill at the WPC, you can cut the tension with a knife, but when the rack comes down to safety play, the tension is almost unbearable, as you'll see in this gem from the 2006 WPC, Souquet 10 Fu 10 in the race to 11 for a spot in the final.

The sequence that decided the match is one worthy of the board's consideration, as each decision the players had to make was a difficult one.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

This very game has been shown several times in the last two weeks on Fox Sports. Just look for WPC.
 
I saw the hill/hill game in this match, and loved the way He jumped up on It, nailed that shot dead center pocket with all that draw to get shape back accross, especially after coming out of the safety battle they had. I've hit that shot quite a few times over the years, as I'm sure others here have, but to not think twice about a possible safety, and do It at the time he did while tied H/H for the match, that took a lot of confidense at that point in the match to just let it all hang out. I love the way he executed that shot. He lost in the finals though, did make the 9 on the break before losing the last game to a safe, setting up a ball in hand 1/9 combo. Great matches though, really enjoy watching them.:) Greg
 
Terry Ardeno said:
I love it! A rack of pool broken down ala "The Zapruder Film". If ESPN's SportsCenter can show highlights of plays and break them down, why can't we?

I can't, because I'm not smart enough to set these image things on here like SJM can. Where did they even come from? So, I'm "railbirding" this thread. But enjoying it.

How'd he do that?:confused:
Click to expand...



And guess what? I saw it all live even though the match was taking place
halfway across the globe, while we have to sweat out US matches and
tournament results from an AZ member generous enough to update us through here... :(
 
sjm said:
Some questions that I think are worth considering are:

1) Did Souquet go for enough on his first safety?
2) Should Fu have considered kicking at the five as he'd have had a good chance to not leave a shot?
3) Was it automatic that Souqet would shoot the five after Fu's safety or should he have also considered a safety?

Just a very interesting rack that I'm still thinking about.
Click to expand...


sjm,
I set up the initial table before looking at the rest.

#1 - I think Souquet's safety was nearly perfect. It appears nearly impossible to get whitey behind the nine. Trying to get whitey as close to the upper rail as possible seems perfect to me (I have low standards though).

#2 - I did not like Fu's shot AT ALL. What I like from his position is soft banking the 5 to tie up with the six (using whatever speed is necessary to maximize accuracy in the final placement of the 5 ball - forget about whitey). There will not be as much separation, but if you can get the 5 to tie up between the 6 and the cue ball; Souquet would still have a lot of work to gain the initiative.

#3 - A true champion shotmaker is a strong favorite to make the 5 and get on the 6 (those guys are in deadstroke all of the time). Heck I made that shot 4 out of 5 times; but I was bridging on the table bed. It appears that Ralf is bridging on the rail (he has a normally LONG bridge though). Once I saw the photo, it appeared a bit more difficult; but I still like shooting for the win.

I've come full circle in my thinking; any reasonable chance of sinking a tough ball, I like. Nothing is worse than passing up a tough shot for the win; then failing in the safety battle and seeing your opponent mop up an easy run for the victory.
 
Last edited:
Williebetmore said:
sjm,
I set up the initial table before looking at the rest.

#1 - I think Souquet's safety was nearly perfect. It appears nearly impossible to get whitey behind the nine. Trying to get whitey as close to the upper rail as possible seems perfect to me (I have low standards though).

#2 - I did not like Fu's shot AT ALL. What I like from his position is soft banking the 5 to tie up with the six (using whatever speed is necessary to maximize accuracy in the final placement of the 5 ball - forget about whitey). There will not be as much separation, but if you can get the 5 to tie up between the 6 and the cue ball; Souquet would still have a lot of work to gain the initiative.

#3 - A true champion shotmaker is a strong favorite to make the 5 and get on the 6 (those guys are in deadstroke all of the time). Heck I made that shot 4 out of 5 times; but I was bridging on the table bed. It appears that Ralf is bridging on the rail (he has a normally LONG bridge though). Once I saw the photo, it appeared a bit more difficult; but I still like shooting for the win.

I've come full circle in my thinking; any reasonable chance of sinking a tough ball, I like. Nothing is worse than passing up a tough shot for the win; then failing in the safety battle and seeing your opponent mop up an easy run for the victory.
Click to expand...

Excuse me Willie. Did you say you made that shot 4 out of 5 times? Drawing the cue ball to the side rail and back across for the six? Well, we got a bet next time you see me.
 
jay helfert said:
Excuse me Willie. Did you say you made that shot 4 out of 5 times? Drawing the cue ball to the side rail and back across for the six? Well, we got a bet next time you see me.
Click to expand...

JH,
You're on (though how tight was Ralf's table???; it makes a difference). Two tips of very low right, one "click" to the right to allow for the deflection, enough power to maximize the draw; power stroke, NO elbow drop. As I mention, I was bridging on the table, using sjm's diagram for setup (not the photo posted later).

It's only a medium tough shot when you are alone in your basement (of course, the shots that George Breedlove gives me to practice are usually tough as nails - he likes the "big stroke" shots); for the cash I suspect it is tougher.......

P.S. - a difference of even an inch or two to the right for the object ball makes a big difference in the difficulty of the shot; I get to place the balls:) :) .
 
sjm said:
Some questions that I think are worth considering are:

1) Did Souquet go for enough on his first safety?
2) Should Fu have considered kicking at the five as he'd have had a good chance to not leave a shot?
3) Was it automatic that Souqet would shoot the five after Fu's safety or should he have also considered a safety?

Just a very interesting rack that I'm still thinking about.
Click to expand...
#1 - I like Souquet's shot here. It was very well executed and I think a much better play than the soft shot IMO. (Even though I would have tried the soft shot and screwed it up. But that's why Souquet's a champion.)
#2 - I did not like Fu's shot that much, even though it's what I would have played. However, I think kicking into the five is worse and more likely to sell out. So far, I think Williebetmore's shot here is the best and what I would have done if I had 3 days and 10 pool consultants to discuss and ponder over it. In the end, this is a very tough choice which illustrates why shot #1 was soooo damn good.
#3 - This was a great shot, but one I think I would have taken if I was a world champion. Watching it on video, this shot doesn't look that hard and I would have been happy to bet even money. However, blowfish's picture gives a better view of how difficult this shot actually is. In the end, what safety would ppl play? Hit the 5 full and follow the cue 1 rail behind the 9 and leave 5 uptable? I think any safety is tough here.

Great Post SJM...
 
jdr said:
Great Post SJM...
Click to expand...

JD,
I'll have to disagree....it's another in a long line of evil posts by sjm; who continually presents these thought provoking 9-ball situations. They are VERY threatening to the world view of 9-ball simpletons such as myself, who strongly believe 9-ball is nothing more than firing the freaking balls into the hole whenever you can see one. Thanks again sjm for making me feel like a moron.

P.S. - my definition of "defense" = what de-cat jumps over.
 
Yeah, SJM's posts can be evil. Sometimes my boss sees me looking at the same 10 minute youtube video for 3 hours and wonders when I'm going to start working.... speaking of Evil Posts, whatever happened to Jude's evil posts... those were fun too...

Back to the thread...
#3- did anybody think Ralf could have played this with follow and come around the 9? If he could beat the 9, I thought this would have been an easier shot with less chance of errors...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top