SVB-Fedor.... Texas Open

MattPoland said:
I meant "major US events" like with a lower case m. I'm not saying they're Majors like how tennis and golf have Majors. Certainly not comparing to any of the world championships, WNT opens, or Predator opens. At that next tier down there are some annual events that carry meaning to US pool. They have legacy, history and brand. They've been the proving grounds that help develop our US talent. In the terms of feast and famine, they were around in our famine eras. And as we enter a feast era, they are getting crowded out a bit.

I really would like to see the Texas Open mean more. It's always been a great event in the great state of Texas where it's local players could enjoy a primetime experience amidst some quality professional players. It has respectable money added ($20k) for the tier its in. I just want it to mean more for pro pool than it currently does. I like seeing SVB, Fedor, Vitaliy, Jesus, Wolford, Morra, etc. there. And I know each player has their reasons for not attending. Just would also love to see it be a WNT ranking event to help draw more to it. I'd like to see Sky, Billy, Tyler, Lukas, Oscar, Sam, etc. all chasing ranking points. And some other international talent like Gomez, Garcia, Corteza, and maybe a couple others in the mix that normally wouldn't miss it. Its not just about standardization of playing conditions. I'd like to see the event move forward in stature but it kinda feels like a backslide. The break format was just an easy detail I don't like seeing overlooked.

Because if you were to rank the significance of an event like this to US pro pool, is starting to fall a bit. Events like Super Billiards Expo, Battle of the Bull, Rally in the Shenendoah Valley, etc. are feeling much more significant when you weigh the events for their own merits. Where the storied history of the Texas Open really feels like it should sit a little higher in that list than it does. Maybe if it tightens up its rules, becomes a ranking event, and runs right before Matchroom runs the US Open in Texas then it'll all turn on a dime back to the right direction. Or maybe it embraces an identity as a minor US regional ProAm.

But this “major US event” vs. “regional US ProAm” identity is the same conversation I’d have about the Derby 9-ball and Turning Stone. I just desire to see them elevate a degree. Or maybe I just need to lower my expectations and hopes and just pay less attention to these events moving forward.
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Thanks for the clarification. I think your argument is valid that these lesser events would be better training grounds for emerging American talent if the conditions tended more toward the specs we see at the premier events.

OK, Matt, now we are on the same page.
 
I think tournaments like this are good…..not every one is a world championship….but it’s roots.
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Frosty said:
His brother Cigar Tom could dab it pretty good as well.
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"Cigar Tom" Vanover used to run Running Out Billiards in Dundalk and engage in games of stake at other Maryland pool rooms within the vicinity, but only by appointment. In Baltimore, he had large fan club who would provide side action to any and all takers. Quite a few road players have come to his pool room with dollar signs in their eyes, only to leave with empty pockets.

Cigar Tom's shaft was quite unusual. It is about as large as the size of a pencil, and many Cigar Tom fans, especially from his pool room, also have shafts this size. He claims he got more english on shots and enjoys a pencil-sized shaft.

Picture of Cigar Tom after he came in second place to Mike Sigel at 1986 MD State Tournament.

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I was discussing the 9-ball cut break, 1 in the side and 2 sitting pretty, with someone last night, and they thought racking the 2 in the back of the rack should not be allowed. And they further went on to suggest that if any balls drop on the break, they should be spotted. It's not a rule I'd be in favor of, but it was interesting to hear.
 
MattPoland said:
But this “major US event” vs. “regional US ProAm” identity is the same conversation I’d have about the Derby 9-ball and Turning Stone. I just desire to see them elevate a degree. Or maybe I just need to lower my expectations and hopes and just pay less attention to these events moving forward.
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For it to become something other than a local/regional event, they would probably have to get rid of the 2 calcuttas that take up almost all of the prime time viewing hours. And it would have to play during decent hours, when "normal" people who may have jobs and whatnot can view. Without a larger viewing audience, it will always be somewhat obscure and local. They should probably treat players better also, like, at least give them chairs to sit in during their matches.

Not saying the Texas Open _should_ do these things, I'm just saying if it wants to attract a larger audience and more dollars, these things are probably necessary in general for pool in the US to come back to life.
 
JAM said:
I was discussing the 9-ball cut break, 1 in the side and 2 sitting pretty, with someone last night, and they thought racking the 2 in the back of the rack should not be allowed. And they further went on to suggest that if any balls drop on the break, they should be spotted. It's not a rule I'd be in favor of, but it was interesting to hear.
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I'm an alright player, not a world beater by any means. With the 2 racked in the back I can consistently make a wing, get the 1B in the side most of the time and have a decent shot at the 2. Our town leagues and some of the tournaments around did and still do specify 2 in the back. Once you know what to do with that rack it becomes somewhat trivial, especially if it's template rack or RYO with a decent triangle.

My buddies and I pretty much stopped putting the 2 in the back because it really did become repetitive. We started rotating it like how Bob stated.
 
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Bob Jewett said:
Are you racking the 9 on the spot? That's the current WNT rule and will soon be the WPA rule.
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I do in practice but I can't get my buddies talked into it. No events/leagues around here do 9 on the spot.

I just have fun messing around with breaks, plus I figured I might get a little edge if I can talk someone into the "spot" of 9 on the spot. :)
 
JAM said:
I was discussing the 9-ball cut break, 1 in the side and 2 sitting pretty, with someone last night, and they thought racking the 2 in the back of the rack should not be allowed. And they further went on to suggest that if any balls drop on the break, they should be spotted. It's not a rule I'd be in favor of, but it was interesting to hear.
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Other than the one ball and the nine ball, the balls should be racked in a "random" order.

Placing the same balls in the same positions every rack is "pattern" racking and should not be allowed.
 
Bob Jewett said:
The WNT break rules require the 2 ball to be rotated among the three "corner" locations.
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What does that mean "rotated"? One time, it is in the back corner of the 9-ball rack, next time is on the side corner of the 9-ball rack?? I'm not sure what "rotated among the three corner locations" means.
 
boogieman said:
I'm an alright player, not a world beater by any means. With the 2 racked in the back I can consistently make a wing, get the 1B in the side most of the time and have a decent shot at the 2. Our town leagues and some of the tournaments around did and still do specify 2 in the back. Once you know what to do with that rack it becomes somewhat trivial, especially if it's template rack or RYO with a decent triangle.

My buddies and I pretty much stopped putting the 2 in the back because it really did become repetitive. We started rotating it like how Bob stated.
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What does that mean? When I am watching the referee on a WNT event, each time he racks, he is placing the 2 in a different corner?
 
JAM said:
What does that mean? When I am watching the referee on a WNT event, each time he racks, he is placing the 2 in a different corner?
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if you rack the 2 in the same position every rack the first shot (providing you made the 1 ball on the break) becomes more predictable. it's still pretty tough to get a clear shot, but at least there's less randomness. at svb / fedor level this factor is magnified since they're so good at breaking
 
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JAM said:
"Cigar Tom" Vanover used to run Running Out Billiards in Dundalk and engage in games of stake at other Maryland pool rooms within the vicinity, but only by appointment. In Baltimore, he had large fan club who would provide side action to any and all takers. Quite a few road players have come to his pool room with dollar signs in their eyes, only to leave with empty pockets.

Cigar Tom's shaft was quite unusual. It is about as large as the size of a pencil, and many Cigar Tom fans, especially from his pool room, also have shafts this size. He claims he got more english on shots and enjoys a pencil-sized shaft.

Picture of Cigar Tom after he came in second place to Mike Sigel at 1986 MD State Tournament.

View attachment 848094
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I once played a guy using one of those super thin pencil-like shafts. It looked ridiculous and cartoonishly thin to me. After he beat me by playing almost flawless, I asked to hit a few with his cue. It played way better than I expected and it allowed you to better see exactly where on the cueball you were hitting. I would have no problem playing with one of those shafts. I often wondered why more people don't experiment with them.
 
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fjk said:
I once played a guy using one of those super thin pencil-like shafts. It looked ridiculous and cartoonishly thin to me. After he beat me by playing almost flawless, I asked to hit a few with his cue. It played way better than I expected and it allowed you to better see exactly where on the cueball you were hitting. I would have no problem playing with one of those shafts. I often wondered why more people don't experiment with them.
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Oscar and his dad used to play with super slim shafts..........
 
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