US Open Final - Mika Immonen - Ronato Alcano. Mika used soft-break?

Roy Steffensen

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
Just read Ralf Souquet's report from the US Open, and he said:

"In the final, Immonen had the better start and stuck to his soft break, although this break had been forbidden during the players meeting."

And then finished his report with:

"Mika Immonen is only the second European player to win the US Open 9-Ball Championships. Of course, he well deserves the title of US Open Champion, but the tournament direction should think about the break format and should put the announced items into practice - I would have liked to watch the entire final, but these breaks of rules were difficult to stand."

So, for those of you who were there, or saw it on ppv, what do you think? Was Mika using a "forbidden" break, and should the tournament director forced him to break harder?

If he used a soft break, and that was not allowed, I totally agree with Ralf!
 
Thing is, unless you're standing there with a radar gun, how are you going to enforce it? Also where do you draw the line? 18mph is ok but 17 isn't? How do you justify that?

As far as I'm concerned making rules to counter someones skill isn't the way to go. If the game is broken as it is, it's time to come up with a new game.

Really, 9-ball shouldn't be the game to determine who is the best pro player anyways.
 
supergreenman said:
Really, 9-ball shouldn't be the game to determine who is the best pro player anyways.
Click to expand...

Amen. In the words of Cleopatra, "come, let us to 10-ball"... or something like that.

Aaron
 
I may be wrong but though the soft break was forbidden, it wasnt defined. There was no 2 balls past the side pocket or other objective way to measure it laid out. I only remember one break that I felt was 'soft' and i think Barry came over and whispered a warning to Mika. Ronnie was hitting them softer than normal also. Isnt this on Youtube?

What a soft break is should definitely be clearly defined and determinable, otherwise there will always be arguments and accusations of favoritism in the enforcement.



PS-Ralf hates anythng less than a 95% total effort break.
 
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I watched the entire match and felt that neither Mika or Ronnie exploded the rack as they may normally do BUT they were not using the "soft break" IMHO. As someone else mentioned I only remember one break that may have been questionable but none broke anywhere near Corey D's typical soft break...
 
They weren't soft breaking.

It was a cut break, which you hit firm, but no where near a traditional hard break. It is far from a soft poofy break too.


Eric
 
I was there, both players were cut breaking at about medium speed. Mika's break was working and Ronnies was not. Half way through the match Ronnie change to a fairly hard break and it worked better for him, it was just too late by then.

Almost every body was cut breaking at about medium speed on the TV table, Corey, Shane and Kiamco. Ralf could of done the same thing had he got there...
 
I watched the PPV. The commentators said that he was using a soft break, but several balls were clearing the side pocket. They definitely weren't KILLING the rack, but I don't know if I'd call it soft breaking.
 
In earlier televised matches, Mika had argued that one or two of his opponents were breaking too softly (which was against the rules).

After the ref (or whoever) chose to do nothing about the situation, Mika began to break softer as well. In his defense, if his opponents were doing it, then why shouldn't he also be allowed?

In any case, the key here is the word 'softer', as a full soft break was never actually used. He used a medium speed cut break.

In either case, the whole "we don't want you to use the soft break" doesn't qualify as a rule if you don't define any terms. It's more of a pointless guideline, rather than a rule....and as we all know, 'guidelines' aren't enforceable, whereas rules are.
 
Roy Steffensen said:
... "In the final, Immonen had the better start and stuck to his soft break, although this break had been forbidden during the players meeting." ...
Click to expand...
It sounds like "soft break" was not defined. On the Eurotour you have to get three balls above the headstring or pocketed, so if you pocket one ball, you have to get two others above the headstring to continue. I believe the same rule will be used at the Mosconi Cup.

Nine ball is broken.
 
mika used a cut break. balls were moving and more than 2 balls past the side pocket regularly. it was not close to being what i considered a soft break.
 
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