Thoughts on My First Money Tourney

Inzombiac

Inzombiac

...
Silver Member
It was a very small shindig but here goes...

After our awards ceremony where my team got trophies for placing first this session, the manager of my Fast Eddies decided to have a quick tourney just for fun. It was only 5 dollars to get in, but as many of you know, money is always sweeter when won... 5 bucks or not. So I sign my name up and I find out they are randomizing the brackets. I say "Gee I hope I don't get anyone from my own team the first game..."

BOOM. The pool gods oblige and give me the better of the three of us, Mark, in the first round. Now you might find this sad/funny/crazy, but I've never played either of my teammates. So not only do I not know how he plays but I'm nervous cus he won the award for best shooter. I end up losing to him. Thinking it was over, I put up my cue and go sit with the girlies. Then someone informs me that there's a loser's bracket and I have to play again. I trounce my next 2 opponents, no problem, but to my dismay, Mark had lost to our OTHER teammate, Jeff, and I was now playing him for the chance to go beat Joey for the win. I take it to hill on Mark, which I'm pleased about, but lose with no love lost.

I enjoyed my first money tourney and I have to say, there was a certain feeling of excitement that I hadn't felt in a long time. I was more focused than I usually was, especially that second game with Mark, and afterwards, even though I lost, I had a bit of a confidence boost and I wanted to play more for money.

Moral: I see what all you hustlers all goin on about. :D
 
Heh, if they're your teammates, how could you not know how they shoot? Do you just not watch them when they're shooting their matches? :P

Your first money tournament is always your most "wiggy". Suddenly they'res CASH involved! The more you do, the more you'll get used to it and it won't be a big deal. Keep at it! :D
 
Congratulations. A couple of things I could suggest from reading your post. Watching others play not only is useful from an instructional standpoint (how others play a certain shot differently than you do, safety ideas, etc.), but you can also get a pretty good feel for their game. What kind of shots do they tend to miss? What kind of shots do they decide are too risky and avoid? Will they likely run out if you miss? I try to keep mental tabs on as many potential opponents as I can, especially the better players. Team mates should be known quantities for you, IMHO. I routinely play against my team mates before a match, trying to give pointers to the lesser skilled and discussing strategy with the better ones. This continues into the actual matches with coaching and feedback with players as they take their turn away from the table. I would never feel nervous playing any of them, even with stakes on the line.
Good job making the second match so close. Now get out there and play more!
 
I will say that shooting a money tourney, and shooting a money match, are two different things entirely. I prefer shooting in a tournament setting myself, but to each their own. :cool:
 
ScottW said:
Heh, if they're your teammates, how could you not know how they shoot? Do you just not watch them when they're shooting their matches? :P

Your first money tournament is always your most "wiggy". Suddenly they'res CASH involved! The more you do, the more you'll get used to it and it won't be a big deal. Keep at it! :D
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Unfortunately, our league format is such that we all play at the same time. They usually shoot faster than me and/or win faster, so I never get to see them play. Plus when they aren't "league-ing" they are usually playing each other. Maybe I'll try to get in on their table and practice with them more often.

I used to think that they didn't even like me (because we didn't know each other before we got put on a team together out of necessity), but when signing up for this new league they told me that they wouldn't want anyone else on their team. :D I'm totally stoked.
 
Congrats for stepping up. Having something on the line makes it more interesting, for sure, and more satisfying when you walk away with more than you started with.
 
Man o man, yer bringing back memories here.. Rather, yer bringing back my lack of memory..

I didn't have the chance to play any money tourneys the entire first year I played, since I was in South Korea. So, by the time I left Korea for Fort Lewis, WA, I was already a pretty good player. I don't remember what came first, tho.. Playing in money tourneys, or gtting asked to play for money in the NCO club.. Either way, I took right to it pretty quickly...

I think that came from the fact that in the NCO club, the line of quarters on the bar table was so long, if you lost, you'd be sitting for an hour and a half, so I absolutely HATED losing.. Because the bangers took so LONG to finish a game... I tried extremely hard on every shot. By the time I started playing in tourneys/for money, I already had becomed used to trying hard on every shot.

Russ
 
Stones said:
Is that an open invitation, Mystick?
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An open Invatation to INZO.....:p hmmmm, I like my chances getting the maroon ball on a 4X8 against the stones of P.B. ;)

I might not like it who knows.....but I'll try it.


Open to P.B.<------ wild maroon....:D
 
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