The Joys of a Race to 2 Tourney...

Tro

Insert Clever Title Here
Silver Member
Tonight I played in a local hall that has an 8-ball tournament every monday night. There's usually a pretty solid turnout of 30 or so players. Half the field is made up of quality players and the other half is made up of bangers and up-and-comers.

In the first round I draw a BRAND NEW player and beat him 2-0, then we talked a bit and I pointed out some things he did wrong and we shot a few more racks while waiting for our next match. Nice guy.

In the second round I played what most of the locals there consider the best player in the house. He wins the lag and break/runs out. 1-0 him. He breaks and scratches, I run the table to the 8 and leave myself a 'comfortable' bank. I rattle it, leave it on the top rail about 1 foot from the corner pocket. He has some balls tied up so he shoots 3 of em and then plays safe. I kicked at the 8-ball, slow rolling it because I didnt expect to kick an 8 ball in the length of the table that was hugging the rail, but I called the corner pocket anyway. I make the 8 ball.

1-1 and it's my break. I sink the 8 on the break. Match.

3rd round I get to play a pleasant 65 year old 'player'. I know this guy and he plays VERY well. He wants to flip for the break. I call tails and win the flip. I break and run out and, once again, I sink the 8 ball on the break. Match.

In the 4th round I get to play this dirtbag, smelly-hasn't-showered-for-a-week, drunk 20-something year old kid that's slurring his speech. We flip a coin and he wins the break. He makes the 8 ball on the break. 1-0 him. He breaks and runs out.

Match.

I goto the loser's bracket and get matched up against the 65 year old player that I think is a swell guy. I tell the tourney director to drop me from the tournament and give him a buy in the round. After that, I proceeded to watch some of the other matches.

All in all, it was a fun night, but a race to 2 in anything is mindbending. Gets a tourney over quickly though.

I just figured I'd share. :)
 
Race to 2 is the nuts

Tonight I played in a local hall that has an 8-ball tournament every monday night. There's usually a pretty solid turnout of 30 or so players. Half the field is made up of quality players and the other half is made up of bangers and up-and-comers.

In the first round I draw a BRAND NEW player and beat him 2-0, then we talked a bit and I pointed out some things he did wrong and we shot a few more racks while waiting for our next match. Nice guy.

In the second round I played what most of the locals there consider the best player in the house. He wins the lag and break/runs out. 1-0 him. He breaks and scratches, I run the table to the 8 and leave myself a 'comfortable' bank. I rattle it, leave it on the top rail about 1 foot from the corner pocket. He has some balls tied up so he shoots 3 of em and then plays safe. I kicked at the 8-ball, slow rolling it because I didnt expect to kick an 8 ball in the length of the table that was hugging the rail, but I called the corner pocket anyway. I make the 8 ball.

1-1 and it's my break. I sink the 8 on the break. Match.

3rd round I get to play a pleasant 65 year old 'player'. I know this guy and he plays VERY well. He wants to flip for the break. I call tails and win the flip. I break and run out and, once again, I sink the 8 ball on the break. Match.

In the 4th round I get to play this dirtbag, smelly-hasn't-showered-for-a-week, drunk 20-something year old kid that's slurring his speech. We flip a coin and he wins the break. He makes the 8 ball on the break. 1-0 him. He breaks and runs out.

Match.

I goto the loser's bracket and get matched up against the 65 year old player that I think is a swell guy. I tell the tourney director to drop me from the tournament and give him a buy in the round. After that, I proceeded to watch some of the other matches.

All in all, it was a fun night, but a race to 2 in anything is mindbending. Gets a tourney over quickly though.

I just figured I'd share. :)

Even a C player like me has a chance in a race to two.
 
That was the main reason I made the post and kinda detailed it...just to show how 'easy' it can be to win, or lose, in that type of setting.

Don't get me wrong, it gives EVERYONE a chance at some fun pool for the night, but it can be very frustrating for the above average player.

Great example is the guy I beat in the 2nd round. He was pretty pissed because he thought he was the better player. Is he? I'd have to say no. He'd say yes, of course.

I guess the only way to find out is to lock horns with him for a night and see who comes out on top after 4-6 hours of slamming balls around.
 
That was the main reason I made the post and kinda detailed it...just to show how 'easy' it can be to win, or lose, in that type of setting.

Don't get me wrong, it gives EVERYONE a chance at some fun pool for the night, but it can be very frustrating for the above average player.

Great example is the guy I beat in the 2nd round. He was pretty pissed because he thought he was the better player. Is he? I'd have to say no. He'd say yes, of course.

I guess the only way to find out is to lock horns with him for a night and see who comes out on top after 4-6 hours of slamming balls around.

Our tues. night 8 ball is race to 2 on the winners side, and 1 on the losers. we have only three tables, so time on a week/work night becomes an issue with more than 20 players/bangers. Brutal. Sat night is 9 ball, and we play race to 3 on both sides. Also brutal. We do though, alternate breaks in both cases. This seems to provide some room for that occassional "good guy". Rule 1. Make the ball you're shooting at. Rule 2. Don't scratch. If a player can handle that, they'll be alright. BB.
 
ohh wow i cant even begin to count how many times ive been burned in a race to 3 on the winners and 2 losers, to much luck involved to take it seriously anymore
 
short races

In a small tourn. like this you should just enjoy playing. Winning and loosing does not always have to be the issue. In this you can learn a little and help someone else learn a lot. The best way to improve is to help others learn. And it sure is fun to piss the better player off a little isn't it.
 
man you might as well flip a coin!

My thoughts exactly. Race to 2 or 3 tournaments are fun if your really don't care if you win or lose.

I played in a race to 2 bar league for several years and lost to some people I would never lose to in a longer race, but I also beat some who I could never beat otherwise.

It is fun socially but not really a great pool experience, for me at least.
 
short races

Wow! How did you guys make so many 8-balls on the break? The only way to mitigate the ,"Luck," in short race 8B is rule that you cannot win or lose on the break. I thought the rule was used pretty broadly. Check out BCA Rules. By the way , how did the smelly,20 year old drunk make out?:D
 
Last edited:
Wow! How did you guys make so many 8-balls on the break? The only way to mitigate the ,"Luck," in short race 8B is rule that you cannot win or lose on the break. I thought the rule was used pretty broadly. Check out BCA Rules. By the way , how did the smelly,20 year old drunk make out?:D

The guy that made one on the break against me, the smelly kid, broke from the center of the table. I break from the side and hit the 2nd ball in the rack with inside draw...it usually gets the 8 ball jumping around and I just got lucky it was attracted to the side pockets last night.

The tourney is APA rules because that hall doesnt have a BCA league, but I agree with you that 8's on the break should'nt count in such a short race. I also agree with a previous poster regarding alternating breaks in a short race.

I watched other matches for about a half hour and then I left, so I don't know how the smelly kid made out. I'll take a look at the sheet next time I go up there.
 
The guy that made one on the break against me, the smelly kid, broke from the center of the table. I break from the side and hit the 2nd ball in the rack with inside draw...it usually gets the 8 ball jumping around and I just got lucky it was attracted to the side pockets last night.

The tourney is APA rules because that hall doesnt have a BCA league, but I agree with you that 8's on the break should'nt count in such a short race. I also agree with a previous poster regarding alternating breaks in a short race.

I watched other matches for about a half hour and then I left, so I don't know how the smelly kid made out. I'll take a look at the sheet next time I go up there.

Joliet Mike, where is this pool establishment exactly? I'm in your area.
 
Wow! How did you guys make so many 8-balls on the break? The only way to mitigate the ,"Luck," in short race 8B is rule that you cannot win or lose on the break. I thought the rule was used pretty broadly. Check out BCA Rules. By the way , how did the smelly,20 year old drunk make out?:D

Sounds like the place has very big pockets, as lots of people making eights on the break, as well as running out.


Russ
 
Back
Top