Thorstens unfinished high run

Gerry

Gerry

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I guess we all heard about Thorsten Hohman running 174 at the 14.1 Worlds. What I don't get is why make him stop? This guy is obviously in dead pop and could you imagine the press for 14.1 if Willies record was approached or dare I say eclipsed! What a punch in the arm for the greatest game that would be. I know they are running behind schedule, but damn.....200 plus numbers.....even in the best of 14.1 circles, don't happen every day.

Man!....I wish I was there!:D

Gerry
 
Gerry said:
I guess we all heard about Thorsten Hohman running 174 at the 14.1 Worlds. What I don't get is why make him stop? This guy is obviously in dead pop and could you imagine the press for 14.1 if Willies record was approached or dare I say eclipsed! What a punch in the arm for the greatest game that would be. I know they are running behind schedule, but damn.....200 plus numbers.....even in the best of 14.1 circles, don't happen every day.

Man!....I wish I was there!:D

Gerry
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I don't follow 14.1, but I should start. But i think Thorsten does have a personal best of something like 410+/-. it's still afar cry from 526, but anything is possible.
 
Great point!

I was right there at table side and this was the most amazing runs I have ever seen and NOT because it was 174. Don't get me wrong, 174 is an amazing run but I have seen many runs over 200 balls and been lucky to have seen in person many of the famous 150 and out runs in World Championship events but this run was the most precise, surgical like, lazer like run I have ever seen. Thorsten's knowledge of what balls will most likely do when he opens clusters (as well as his pattern play) is beyond anything I've ever seen. I'm sure I'm forgetting parts of the run but I don't remember him having to shoot any very difficult shots because he had everything so in control.

It also suggests that while we will always have a fair number of great 14.1 players among the younger players. the 14.1 torch has been picked up and is alive and well in Europe and other parts of the world

It was a great tragedy for pool and 14.1 that he was not allowed to continue. Danny Barouty and Max Eberly where in a 4 hour match on the next table so why in the world couldn't Thorsten keep shooting? Having run over 400 balls and obviously being in dead stroke with such an amazing run who knows how many he could have run.

Also since 14.1 championships are rarely held when these moments that are so ripe with historic possibilities happen you must let them play out. I know the odds of a 300 ball run or higher was very, very slim but what if he did run over 300? Can you all imagine the rebirth of 14.1 that could have happened. It's also a shame there is no video record. At least I didn't see anyone with a camera.

While I thought the round robin, double elim., single elim., 200 pt matches was the greatest format I've ever seen, the score keeping was horrible. During this run you could not tell how many he was running and there was no announcment at 50 balls ,100 balls, 150balls to let the audience know what was unfolding(or for any other player running balls). Just that feature alone creates great suspence and excitment. The seating was also terrible but thats another topic. I say this only because the format was so great and the fact that a world class 14.1 event was even put together that I'm surprised these important other element were not covered.

Anyway, sorry for getting up on a soap box about this but I love 14.1 and to see this zen like performance needlessly cut short was a crime.

Congrats to Thorsten and if he ever realeases a DVD on "Pattern play for 14.1' I'll be a customer.
 
Slim J said:
Great point!

I was right there at table side and this was the most amazing runs I have ever seen and NOT because it was 174. Don't get me wrong, 174 is an amazing run but I have seen many runs over 200 balls and been lucky to have seen in person many of the famous 150 and out runs in World Championship events but this run was the most precise, surgical like, lazer like run I have ever seen. Thorsten's knowledge of what balls will most likely do when he opens clusters (as well as his pattern play) is beyond anything I've ever seen. I'm sure I'm forgetting parts of the run but I don't remember him having to shoot any very difficult shots because he had everything so in control.
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Likewise. He only got 'semi' out of line twice. Once he almost scratched in the top pocket after a break and shot and had to make a good long 8-ball. The other he had about eight balls left and had to bridge over one to make a shot in the top pocket. It was truly an incredible thing for any 14.1 lover to watch. As for continuing, well they had to do the 3pm matches. Hopkins and Nico went on pretty much right away.

As for the scoring, I just happened to look at the score at the end of the first rack of the ran and saw he was on 33. I was sending text messages to a friend as he ran 70, 100, 130. I don't think many people on the arena were aware of the big run. I talked to people around me and when I said he was on '150+', I heard 'No, I'm sure he has missed'. One table I was watching Thorsten, the other the sublime Jasmin Ouschan ;) ... doesn't get much better than that :)
 
It's not just the fact that he ran 174, it's that he did it in the World Championship during the late rounds, the circumstances are what make this a truly great run.
 
The run ends when the game is over...

Big congratulations to Thorsten for the great performance. But it is the right thing for the run to end when the match is over. I've posted along these lines before about how really high runs must be performed in exhibitions or possibly match play of longer length.

Okay so Thorsten might have been able to run a thousand balls and smash the record and bring pool out of the depths of whatever it is we call it...but he is there as a professional player with the intention of winning the most money he can...and it won't hurt to gather the most glory that can add to his already impressive resume.

We all might like to see Thorsten give the greatest exhibition of straight pool skill ever...and he just might be capable...but we need to respect his time and energy to build up his reserve for the next match. The big exhibition can come later...and with separate tickets...

And where do you draw the line anyway??...every time a player hits...what 150?? 100?...the tournament stops while an impromptu exhibition pops up??...I don't think so.
 
Slim J said:
It was a great tragedy for pool and 14.1 that he was not allowed to continue.
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Let me play devil's advocate.

What purpose would it have served for him to keep the run going? His high run is already in the 400's. This is a tournament. None of the rest of the run would affect this tournament or any other tournament record.

If for argument's sake he goes on and gets his personal high run, would that be worth straining himself physically and mentally vs. stopping and getting prepared for the rest of the tournament?

If he continues to 500+, it would be exhausting. IMO, that isn't worth it compared to his current tournament standing.

And lastly, did he look like he wanted to keep going?

Fred
 
Sorry Mike but I couldn't disagree with you more.

First I want to say that yes, it all depends on Thorsten desire to keep shooting If he is not interested then the run stops. It's his call and no questions asked.

But this run was already a record breaker not 100 or 150 balls but 174 That has never been done before. EVER. In addition you write as if 14.1 events with this caliber field are happening all the time. As if 14.1 is as popular as 9-ball.

It's a blessing that 14.1 lovers with the financial means put these rare events on. I've gone on record mentioning the good and not so good points about this event but your letter leads me to think that maybe you don't know that Johnny Archer won his first 14.1 event with a 150 and out and the crowd was screaming for him to continue. He then ran up to 200 and had to stop only because he was in the 9 ball final also. That run was talked about in my area for a long time. And yes, I'm aware it was the finals with no match to follow. It doesn't matter.

14.1 in this country has become a dinosour! Ask Pat Fleming which 14.1 dvds and tapes sell the best. No doubt its the ones with high runs. 14.1 needs all the flash and excitement and record breaking efforts it can get!

If the player is willing, you can't pull the plug!
 
Cornerman,

You are correct as far as wear and tear on the player.

All I'm saying is if the player wants to continue then the he should be allowed to only because this run was so high already. Not simply at the end of any large run. Also because its 14.1 and the game needs all the attention it can get.

When in this country in this day and age do you see newspaper space or TV sports news give any attention to Pool? In many other parts of the world its much different.

Every little bit of note worthyness helps.
 
Slim J said:
If the player is willing, you can't pull the plug!
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I don't see any reason why Thorsten would have wanted to continue his run. If he wants to break records, he's most certainly going to do them at the practice room or at an exhibition. I have never seen a major straight pool tournament match ending with a unfinished high run and then the player continuing shooting. Never. All players, especially top ones, understand that they need to save energy for the following matches instead of wasting it.

Plus, I think Joe Procita still has the tournament high run with 182.
 
mjantti said:
I don't see any reason why Thorsten would have wanted to continue his run. If he wants to break records, he's most certainly going to do them at the practice room or at an exhibition. I have never seen a major straight pool tournament match ending with a unfinished high run and then the player continuing shooting. Never. All players, especially top ones, understand that they need to save energy for the following matches instead of wasting it.

Plus, I think Joe Procita still has the tournament high run with 182.
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I was a spectator for that session:) , and also notable for that round was Immonen's 134 and out.
 
mjantti said:
I don't see any reason why Thorsten would have wanted to continue his run. .... I have never seen a major straight pool tournament match ending with a unfinished high run and then the player continuing shooting. Never. All players, especially top ones, understand that they need to save energy for the following matches instead of wasting it..
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The only time I've heard of a player continuing is if the high run was the final game. Johnny Archer comes to mind (as reporte in one of the magazines) after running out the match against Nick VArner in Johnny's first "major" 14.1 event, he continued his run at the urging of the spectators and got to 199 and one stroked his last shot (miss), IIRC.

Fred
 
I guess it all depends where your coming from. If you are trying to support and help 14.1 grow, the player wants to, and no one objects....let him keep going.

If it's all about the money, the win, and on to the next tourney, then don't give the looooong runs and records any thought.

Who remembers all Mosconis wins where and when?......I don't....but I know the magic number of 526 at that fabled exhibition!.......how many people know of Eufemia, Cranfield, Lassiter, Crane, Balsis, Sigel, Hopkins, Greenleaf? all with GIANT runs......if I had the chance to put my name with those legends, I'd jump on it!

I guess in short it can be just another tourney, or an EVENT to remember for years...
Gerry
 
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