SVB-Fedor.... Texas Open

It was probably you that beat me that day. You remember beating a tall ugly guy really badly in NY about 20 years ago?
Was that at Amsterdam, maybe not amsterdam, the one that Earl used to be the house pro at, on one of the tight tables? I remember playing a tall guy in New York on a super tight table, don't know about the ugly part, but I don't usually pay attention to that stuff. While I have little hair left now, even back then I usually wore a ball cap.

I've played all over and played at different halls in New York and New Jersey back when I was traveling for work all the time.
 
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I agree almost entirely with Matt Poland's view of the Texas Open. I watched the event, but as someone else said, it was an advertisement for 4-inch pockets, the 9 ball on the spot, etc. I found the matches too boring and too easy. Doubt I will watch the event going forward.

Matchroom imo has come up with the winning formula. The matches are tough and tense and there are more big moments that can turn the tide of a match.

Oscar Dominguez heaped praise on MR on the Boomer and Freezer show. He was surprisingly critical - belittling even - of the Predator race to 4 style matches.

I do think Texas should have a big MR event. I was hoping for a new major, but it looks like just a venue switch for the U.S. Open ...
 
I think MR will be doing some more big events in the US as their events that they do hold start to do better. I think we can expect some good things for pool in the coming years.
 
The 2 goes on either wing or at the back of the rack. I think it's supposed to be random or at least different each time.
I suggested quite a while ago, on the problem of pattern racking, that everybody uses the SAME PATTERN, DETERMINED BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR….FOR EVERY BALL.
 
I suggested quite a while ago, on the problem of pattern racking, that everybody uses the SAME PATTERN, DETERMINED BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR….FOR EVERY BALL.

do you mean rotated pattern? fedor v shane race to 120 had this. definitely took away the pattern racking

if you mean the exact same pattern every rack, that too will become predictable obviously
 
do you mean rotated pattern? fedor v shane race to 120 had this. definitely took away the pattern racking

if you mean the exact same pattern every rack, that too will become predictable obviously
The pattern can be changed every round….or every tournament.
 
I agree almost entirely with Matt Poland's view of the Texas Open. I watched the event, but as someone else said, it was an advertisement for 4-inch pockets, the 9 ball on the spot, etc. I found the matches too boring and too easy. Doubt I will watch the event going forward.

Matchroom imo has come up with the winning formula. The matches are tough and tense and there are more big moments that can turn the tide of a match.

Oscar Dominguez heaped praise on MR on the Boomer and Freezer show. He was surprisingly critical - belittling even - of the Predator race to 4 style matches.

I do think Texas should have a big MR event. I was hoping for a new major, but it looks like just a venue switch for the U.S. Open ...

here's how i see it. the tour has no q school like golf or snooker do. unless that changes, these pro-am style events fill an important function in letting new players get into the seeded 128. now texas open is obviously a bad example, but for the other dozen satellite events this holds true. this guatemalian guy is a good example, and had this been a ranking event he would maybe be in the 128 (idk runner up prize money)
 
it was an advertisement for 4-inch pockets, the 9 ball on the spot, etc. I found the matches too boring and too easy. Doubt I will watch the event going forward.
Yup, I have always said there is nothing more boring than watching a top pro running an open rack. Keep making the pockets smaller until running a rack is impressive and interesting to watch.

IMHO, casual fans would get a kick out of watching players struggle and anguish (it would help make their personalities come out and make it fun to watch). Look at TV poker as an example, watching non-talking emotionless robots play poker would be boring. Most folks want to watch the people they know that are entertaining (love um' or hate um'). To my experience, Earl always draws the biggest crown in pool even though he's far from being the strongest player anymore. Earl is interesting and fun to watch...love um' or hate um'.
 
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