US Open 9-Ball, 2023, Atlantic City, Sep 25-30

[Lightnin']

Well, no. Anyone who is interested in the game will be following Matchroom events. They announced the change to smaller pockets a long time ago. Catch on, catch up, or be left behind. (And I suspect the equipment was specified in the player's agreement.)

: P

...sounds like carnival pool to me.

 

[iusedtoberich]

I see MR keeps advertising the Hanoi Open. I think that might end up being the best event, based on how popular the youtube streams are when there is a Vietnamese player. I anticipate packed houses and lots of cheering.

 

[Lightnin']

Well, no. Anyone who is interested in the game will be following Matchroom events. They announced the change to smaller pockets a long time ago. Catch on, catch up, or be left behind. (And I suspect the equipment was specified in the

You're talking like it's 2015 or something. It's not! Matchroom is on the scene and they are actually growing pool. Their production is the best I've ever seen. I can only offer minor criticisms of anything they've done and my opinions on those minor things could actually be wrong.

So yes I don't want the most coveted tournament in pool looking like the Wednesday night APA league. I can't believe anyone would. It's like the difference between the Masters and your local par 3 golf

Growing pool.... where? In North America? I don't think so.
I love seeing this growth in major tournaments, prize monies and pool in general as much as anyone, and I'm not even close to being involved at that level anyways....but I can dream. And 4" deep shelved pockets is killing that dream dead. Maybe I need spend the next 15yrs practicing on a snooker table. ...by that time I'll be 6' under.

 

[jasonlaus]

Growing pool.... where? In North America? I don't think so.
I love seeing this growth in major tournaments, prize monies and pool in general as much as anyone, and I'm not even close to being involved at that level anyways....but I can dream. And 4" deep shelved pockets is killing that dream dead. Maybe I need spend the next 15yrs practicing on a snooker table. ...by that time I'll be 6' under.

Americans are lazy and won't put in the work - they deserve to get left behind.

If you honestly think you can beat even a low level pro on 5" pockets drive or fly on over to AC and as they get knocked out you can go to the local room and play them a few thousand a set.

My guess is you could spend the next 1,000 years playing snooker and NEVER beat a top 10 pro.

We have stuff for you, it's called APA. You can get your trophy and maybe an 8 on the break patch, I'm guessing it would take you a lot of years to get a patch for break and run.

Yes, complainers like you piss me off

 

[Flakeandrun]

looks like diamond paragon?

View attachment 720990

that is a monstrosity imo

 

[Flakeandrun]

All ball fouls is the only way to play...

Lot of Americans are way too used to playing cue ball fouls only. Euro pros often play all ball fouls in national leagues, so they are used to it, and accept it as part of the game.

 

[SBC]

Key words here are "AT PRO LEVEL". 4.5" is too tight for your average commercial recreation crowd. I grew up in a nice post-Hustler GoldCrown1 room with standard 5-inchers. Place was packed and people had fun. I totally agree that a couple tight ones are fine.

These guys still running out like water.
Might as well try to keep it competitive.
Nobody selling the game to the public....cuz they'd rather play on league cut barboxes with handicaps.

 

[Mich]

Well, no. Anyone who is interested in the game will be following Matchroom events. They announced the change to smaller pockets a long time ago. Catch on, catch up, or be left behind. (And I suspect the equipment was specified in the player's agreement.)

Completely agree. The US Open in golf starts prepping the course a year in advance to make the conditions extremely tough. If you want to play on buckets then go play in local tournaments, but if you want to test yourself against the best players on the toughest equipment, then sign up for a Match Room event. Even back in the day I recall Varner, Hall, Sigel, et al calling for tighter pockets.

 

[SBC]

the first days with dead money players and no shot clock are many times more boring than the elimination stage, in all these events. hard to get away from that without reducing the field. the events you mention were in the end very enjoyable, i'm sure this will be too

chang vs viktor in the final is my bid

The first 5 racks of He and Corteza took an hour....so it's not just shortstop that are slow. Just put in the shot clocks.

BTW there is no pro tournament without the bracket fillers

 

[Lightnin']

Americans are lazy and won't put in the work - they deserve to get left behind.

If you honestly think you can beat even a low level pro on 5" pockets drive or fly on over to AC and as they get knocked out you can go to the local room and play them a few thousand a set.

My guess is you could spend the next 1,000 years playing snooker and NEVER beat a top 10 pro.

We have stuff for you, it's called APA. You can get your trophy and maybe an 8 on the break patch, I'm guessing it would take you a lot of years to get a patch for break and run.

Yes, complainers like you piss me off

Hahaha .. the feelings very much mutual my friend. Haters and insults are not needed, wanted or appreciated. Thanks but NO thanks!
Btw....where are you from, you sound 110% like a Euro team supporter, just saying.
Those APA bangers are what your sponsors like Predator and Mezz and the rest make their money off. Soo some respect please!

 

[SBC]

Tell us without telling us you’ve never played on 4” pockets.

I owned a room and we used to play 3.5 inch pockets in the 90s

 

[Lightnin']

Completely agree. The US Open in golf starts prepping the course a year in advance to make the conditions extremely tough. If you want to play on buckets then go play in local tournaments, but if you want to test yourself against the best players on the toughest equipment, then sign up for a Match Room event. Even back in the day I recall Varner, Hall, Sigel, et al calling for tighter pockets.

...and why do you think they were calling for tighter pockets. To protect their livelihood.
Newbie question here....do or have Pro pool players ever received a living wage?

 

[SBC]

The Scott Frost/Hunter Lombardo issue was certainly bizarre. At first glance, Hunter seems like a piece of crap. However, I started thinking about it more and I'm not so sure anymore. Did the shirt touch? Who knows. But let's put ourselves in Hunter's shoes for a second and give him the benefit of the doubt that he did indeed see Scott's shirt touching the 6 ball.

From Hunter's perspective:
There is a lot on the line. This is the US Open. You've paid a big entry fee. You have major travel expenses. You're in contention for a Mosconi Cup spot. You've already lost one match and it's hill-hill. Stakes are high! So this is no casual match up where you're going to ignore a stupid rule and let the foul slide. All ball fouls apply and you expect everyone to follow the rules or face the consequences.

Scott is running out and you're staying quiet and respectful. Then Scott starts to lean over the 6 ball. You may consider calling a ref but it's not a close hit or anything so it would probably look like a shark move. You're sort of unsure if you should call a ref or not but then Scott stands back up and tucks in his shirt. With the shirt tucked in, you no longer anticipate an issue and also out of consideration for Scott, you sit still and just watch.

Then the shirt clearly touches. For the sake of this post, let's say it's more than just a quick touch, let's say it hangs there for a few seconds draped over the 6 ball. What do you do? You don't want to sound like a nit but the rules are pretty clear and there is a lot on the line.

Hunter didn't jump up to the table and shout "foul". He didn't even stand up or say "foul" at all. He simply said "You're touching the six". Notice that he didn't say "you touched the six", which would have been past tense. He used present tense, as if it's still currently happening as he speaks. This leads me to believe that it was longer than simple touch and go but rather a prolonged shirt touch (not that that matters anyways).

So now the ref comes over and Hunter is not argumentative or standing up trying to take a foul. He simply said what he saw and let the ref deal with it. What else can he do without being ostracized?

If Hunter truly saw the foul then I feel sorry for him. If he lied then I hope he burns in hell.

If this happened to me in a local gambling or tournament match I wouldn't call a foul. But I also don't play pool for a living or rely on good results to feed my family. So the situation is not the same at all. It's also worth noting that Hunter has a great reputation and has been known to call similar fouls on himself in the past.

The ruling from the ref is a different story all together. Typically the player at the table would have the final word regarding a foul or not. However, in this case Scott wasn't in a position to know whether or not his shirt touched. It's kind of a weird situation but I guess the ref made the only call that made sense. The rule is definitely open for abuse in the future.

It sucks to lose or win that way. I'm sure both players feel bad about it. But does Hunter really deserve all the hate? Not sure...

I have told people the same....you are laying on the 6. Stop them from shooting the way they are and make then shoot without fouling. Without a ref there's not much you can do.

 

[SBC]

Bingo.
I've rooted for that kid to keep coming up and get to the top level for years.
I will now be rooting for his opponents fort he rest of his petty, cheating, career.
That was a disgrace to the game and an embarrassment to the player.
I've complained in the past about the "all ball fouls" interpretation.
The fact that something insignificant that has no effect on the game can be called a foul, completely changing the outcome of an event, is beyond stupid.
If a ball moves, fine -call a foul. If you think there's a chance your opponents arm hair may have grazed a ball, just stfu and don't cry for a free game.
Let's go Garzia! He should probably shave his head and arms, and buy a spandex shirt before the match with hunter.

How can a ref make that call without witnessing it?
That's the first rule they should learn.

 

[SBC]

By your logic; you are saying you don't want to see great play from the amateurs and semi pros, who might I remind you are the BULK of revenue in billiards in general...you want league players to show up, pay up, but not have much chance to do well, as they're used to playing on barboxes or big pocket brunswicks....you want them to get weeded out and see NO upsets, just status quo going forward to the later stages....how boring is that !!! Maybe these 4" pockets are appropriate for 10 ball ...but in my humble, league level, bang ball opinion, 9 ball pool should be... Fast n Loose, more exciting this way.
...And I'd love to see something implemented like this; ...2-game points for a win by combo or carom ....how exciting would that make 9ball....and at the same time bring back the old Hustler style of high risk high reward power shot making.

Exactly
I want to see the basement warrior come out and shock the world. Pool is the best because you can sign up to play the best.

 

[jasonlaus]

Hahaha .. the feelings very much mutual my friend. Haters and insults are not needed, wanted or appreciated. Thanks but NO thanks!
Btw....where are you from, you sound 110% like a Euro team supporter, just saying.
Those APA bangers are what your sponsors like Predator and Mezz and the rest make their money off. Soo some respect please!

The Euros are FAR superior to everybody but Shane, and a few are favored over him.

I couldn't give a shit less about predator or mezz, will never play with their cues.

Go to Vegas and play league pool, the US Open isn't a place for you bangers to go have fun, if for great players - now that "everybody" gets a trophy it's filled with 450 Fargo rated players that can't make a ball on a 9' let alone one with 4" pockets.

Nobody wants to watch you or anybody below 700 FR really, play in the US Open - it should be changed to a qualifying tournament to end your and other crybaby nonsense

 

[skogstokig]

The first 5 racks of He and Corteza took an hour....so it's not just shortstop that are slow. Just put in the shot clocks.

BTW there is no pro tournament without the bracket fillers

wonder what it would cost to put in the shot clock in form of a ref that says "10 seconds". it's 256 players so probably expensive, but i'm sure it's in the pipeline. player manning a shot clock system is probably a no go. but what about volunteers? give them food and tickets for the final days?

i know most "pro" tournaments are pro-am to a degree, but i suspect that will change. world wide qualifiers for the unseeded 128 spots etc.

 

[Chicken Feather]

17 year old Sam Henderson had a great tournament. Ussery just knocked him out in a tough match. Congratulations to Sam!

 

[Lightnin']

The Euros are FAR superior to everybody but Shane, and a few are favored over him.

I couldn't give a shit less about predator or mezz, will never play with their cues.

Go to Vegas and play league pool, the US Open isn't a place for you bangers to go have fun, if for great players - now that "everybody" gets a trophy it's filled with 450 Fargo rated players that can't make a ball on a 9' let alone one with 4" pockets.

Nobody wants to watch you or anybody below 700 FR really, play in the US Open - it should be changed to a qualifying tournament to end your and other crybaby nonsense

Wow!
I'm glad I don't know you. Let's just keep it that way.

 

[Philthepockets]

I haven't watched all the matches, but from the ones I have watched I can't say I have seen balls refused in favor of a safety just because of pocket size, if anything I have seen some downright reckless attempts on tough shots