Was This the Greatest Tournament Final Ever?

sjm

sjm

Older and Wiser
Silver Member
Well, the memorabe 17 - 16 final is in the books now.

It was a tale of two matches, the lackluster twenty rack opening that got the match to 10 - 10, followed by thirteen of the most breathtaking racks ever seen over the green felt, with Kuo in the zone, and then Wu in the zone.

A defensive error by Kuo at 16 - 12 didn't really seem like that big a deal until it turned out to be the last time he'd see the table in the 2005 WPC. It was, by far, the greatest final ever played in the current edition of the WPC. The question is "Was it the most dramatic comeback ever to win a high profile pool event?" Remember, only final matches are under consideration here, but all disciplines are fair game (one pocket, straight pool, eight ball, nine ball, bank pool, ring games, skins, etc.).

At least as far as 2005 is concerned, the only miracle comeback to win an event that I can think of was Brian Gregg's comeback from way behind against Shannon Daulton when they were the last two remaining in the Derby City Bank Pool ring game.

Still, in all my years around the game, I can't think of a more memorable comeback to win an event than this. Can you?

What are the most memorable comebacks in the finals of an event that you've ever seen?
 
sjm said:
Well, the memorabe 17 - 16 final is in the books now.

It was a tale of two matches, the lackluster twenty rack opening that got the match to 10 - 10, followed by thirteen of the most breathtaking racks ever seen over the green felt, with Kuo in the zone, and then Wu in the zone.

A defensive error by Kuo at 16 - 12 didn't really seem like that big a deal until it turned out to be the last time he'd see the table in the 2005 WPC. It was, by far, the greatest final ever played in the current edition of the WPC. The question is "Was it the most dramatic comeback ever to win a high profile pool event?" Remember, only final matches are under consideration here, but all disciplines are fair game (one pocket, straight pool, eight ball, nine ball, bank pool, ring games, skins, etc.).

At least as far as 2005 is concerned, the only miracle comeback to win an event that I can think of was Brian Gregg's comeback from way behind against Shannon Daulton when they were the last two remaining in the Derby City Bank Pool ring game.

Still, in all my years around the game, I can't think of a more memorable comeback to win an event than this. Can you?

What are the most memorable comebacks in the finals of an event that you've ever seen?
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wasn't alex down quite a bit last year?

VAP
 
I don't know about comebacks, but for sheer drama you can't beat Busta vs Strickland in 2002. Busta had just had the tragic news of his child's death thrown at him, and Strickland was kind of a surprise comethrough as he hit a high gear. During the finals, the humanity of the event was tangible; you almost felt excitement for the personality of the event as much as the game being played. Bustamante was the people's favorite, and the final kind of looked like a Good Busta vs Evil Strickland. But you felt for strickland too, you just knew that even if he won he might still feel a tad heartbroken for Busta. As far as I am concerned, that is the greatest final ever played.
 
vapoolplayer said:
wasn't alex down quite a bit last year?

VAP
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Yes, Alex trailed by several racks, but caught Pei Wei Chang at either 12 - 12 or 13 - 13 and then crusied to a 17 - 13 win. A good comeback, but not among the greatest by my standards.
 
henho said:
I don't know about comebacks, but for sheer drama you can't beat Busta vs Strickland in 2002. Busta had just had the tragic news of his child's death thrown at him, and Strickland was kind of a surprise comethrough as he hit a high gear. During the finals, the humanity of the event was tangible; you almost felt excitement for the personality of the event as much as the game being played. Bustamante was the people's favorite, and the final kind of looked like a Good Busta vs Evil Strickland. But you felt for strickland too, you just knew that even if he won he might still feel a tad heartbroken for Busta. As far as I am concerned, that is the greatest final ever played.
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Agreed, that was a magnificent final that ranks with the best finals ever played.
 
sjm said:
Well, the memorabe 17 - 16 final is in the books now.

It was a tale of two matches, the lackluster twenty rack opening that got the match to 10 - 10, followed by thirteen of the most breathtaking racks ever seen over the green felt, with Kuo in the zone, and then Wu in the zone.

A defensive error by Kuo at 16 - 12 didn't really seem like that big a deal until it turned out to be the last time he'd see the table in the 2005 WPC. It was, by far, the greatest final ever played in the current edition of the WPC. The question is "Was it the most dramatic comeback ever to win a high profile pool event?" Remember, only final matches are under consideration here, but all disciplines are fair game (one pocket, straight pool, eight ball, nine ball, bank pool, ring games, skins, etc.).

At least as far as 2005 is concerned, the only miracle comeback to win an event that I can think of was Brian Gregg's comeback from way behind against Shannon Daulton when they were the last two remaining in the Derby City Bank Pool ring game.

Still, in all my years around the game, I can't think of a more memorable comeback to win an event than this. Can you?

What are the most memorable comebacks in the finals of an event that you've ever seen?
Click to expand...

do you mean the best final ever or the best comeback ever???

though the score tells us that it was a scintillating match, i don't think i will put it among the best finals ever (although i didn't see a lot of finals in wpc). i wonder if you guys have seen the games. i completely agree with jim wych when he said "what it lacks in quality it makes up in drama" . . . . yes it was scintillating as far as results were concerned coz one doesn't have a clear clue who's going to win until the very last rack. however, there were lots of misses and a number of them were not off difficult situations. i think one of the commentators said something like it wasn't a classic match.

about great comebacks in the finals, i'm reminded of the 1st philippine open. it was between efren and mika. race to 13, efren led 10-6. in an alternate break format, that is a huge lead. mika was able to turn the table. a lot of things contributed to it: missed shots, no offensive opportunity after the break, etc.. ending up a champion in the 1st ever Philippine open defeating the most popular Filipino player in a come from behind fashion makes it really remarkable for me.

2002 wpc final was also close and exciting.
 
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For a 16 year old kid to be down 16-12, against a seasoned professional player who is on the hill and who is one 9-ball away from victory, on tight equipment, the pressure mounting, in the biggest tournament in the entire world, with TV cameras in your face and the entire world watching you with $75,000.00 on the line and this kid runs 5 racks in a row to win the World Championship which was comprised of the best players on the entire planet.


Yes, This finals gets my vote, since the last time a teenager won such an event in the pool world of about this magnatude that I know about 20-25 years ago...



There was a straight pool match that I read about in Pool and Billiard Magazine back in 1990 or 91, that was Mike Sigel V. Jim Rempe in a tournament in Rochester, NY, with Sigel leading 199- 15 in the finals to 200, and Rempe came back to win 200-199 (Jimmy had a run of 115 and 70) I will have to look up that to give the actual details. Thats what I love and admire about straight pool.
 
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Efren and Earl in Reno...

I have to bring to the attention of everyone the Reno Finals where it is Hill/Hill and Efren plays a safe on Earl and accidentally makes a Ball when he is playing safe. Efren is in a very tough spot and must kick to possibly save himself. Efren executes the most FAMOUS TWO RAIL KICK (ZIG-ZAGS) the table and makes the object ball and runs out the remaining balls to win the match and tournament!!! Earl actually give Efren the nine and holds Efrens arm up with everyone to enjoy the Eternal Moment of History...

This tape can be aquired at Accustats...Pat Flemming...

A Must Have!!
 
Is this greatest final or comeback? I believe it was intended as greatest final but strayed off course! Anyways, I would have to consider it one of the greatest if not the greatest ever, Busta vs Earl was good I believe it finished 17-15 but this is the first time a world championship match has gone hill-hill with $75,000 on the line. There's also the fact that this match re-wrote the history books making Wu the youngest world champion ever and creating a record that I believe will never be broken. This one is tops in my book.
 
Mr. J said:
I have to bring to the attention of everyone the Reno Finals where it is Hill/Hill and Efren plays a safe on Earl and accidentally makes a Ball when he is playing safe. Efren is in a very tough spot and must kick to possibly save himself. Efren executes the most FAMOUS TWO RAIL KICK (ZIG-ZAGS) the table and makes the object ball and runs out the remaining balls to win the match and tournament!!! Earl actually give Efren the nine and holds Efrens arm up with everyone to enjoy the Eternal Moment of History...

This tape can be aquired at Accustats...Pat Flemming...

A Must Have!!
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Great match. A real heartwarming moment when Earl graciously claps for Efren after pocketing that kick. Sure Earl has his faults, but everyone who bashes him so unfairly should watch that again. It's one of the best displays of sportmanship I've seen in pool.
 
Sigel V. Varner, 1990 US Open 9-ball, Sigel leads 9-2 and Varner is corner hooked, Varner kicks 2 balls in a row to win his 3rd game, then goes on to take the match 11-10 (Grady Mathews & Buddy Hall commentaries) and Varner goes on to win his 2nd consectutive US 9-ball Open and set a unmatched record!
 
This match probably doesn't rank in importance and quality with the others, but since the Big Apple 9 Ball Challenge is around the corner and I've missed the finals last year, I have to ask. Wasn't last year's Big Apple 9 Ball Challenge --- Archer vs. Jeremy Jones pretty crazy as well? I know JJ was trailing behind a long ways in an alternate break format, and came back to make it hill-hill.

I know some New York players who hype it up as being one of the best comebacks they've seen. But I always thought that was because the match was played here on their backyard, and therefore it had a special place in their hearts.

Does anyone who's seen that match think it is deserving of mention on this thread?
 
JustPlay said:
Sigel V. Varner, 1990 US Open 9-ball, Sigel leads 9-2 and Varner is corner hooked, Varner kicks 2 balls in a row to win his 3rd game, then goes on to take the match 11-10 (Grady Mathews & Buddy Hall commentaries) and Varner goes on to win his 2nd consectutive US 9-ball Open and set a unmatched record!
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Is this the same match where Varner misses the 9 at hill-hill and the 9-ball travels 2 cushions only to freeze to the cueball leaving Sigel absolutely nothing ? Sigel is disgusted and just shoots through the 9-ball...
 
mjantti said:
Is this the same match where Varner misses the 9 at hill-hill and the 9-ball travels 2 cushions only to freeze to the cueball leaving Sigel absolutely nothing ? Sigel is disgusted and just shoots through the 9-ball...
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Yes it is. Probably should be voted the most dramatic match ever!
 
I don't think any particular match in this year's WPC would be the best individual match ever. However, I think this tournament as a whole would be one of the best ever because of the drama it provides and the incredible depth of the field. This has to be the deepest field of any tournament to date. Sure there were a few notables missing, but, as the tournament result indicates, the young guns that shined in this years WPC are just as good, if not better.
 
JustPlay said:
Sigel V. Varner, 1990 US Open 9-ball, Sigel leads 9-2 and Varner is corner hooked, Varner kicks 2 balls in a row to win his 3rd game, then goes on to take the match 11-10 (Grady Mathews & Buddy Hall commentaries) and Varner goes on to win his 2nd consectutive US 9-ball Open and set a unmatched record!
Click to expand...

The Sigel-Varner was a tremendous match, maybe the greatest comeback I've ever seen. But it wasn't the finals.
 
PoolBum said:
The Sigel-Varner was a tremendous match, maybe the greatest comeback I've ever seen. But it wasn't the finals.
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I think you are talking about something different...if we are talking about the match where Sigel shoots thru the 9 and the ball flies off the table at hill-hill I am almost positive that was the finals...I don't know which event however.
 
PoolBum said:
The Sigel-Varner was a tremendous match, maybe the greatest comeback I've ever seen. But it wasn't the finals.
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When those two match up, it might as well be a finals match. Both were such great players and great to watch.
 
LastTwo said:
I think you are talking about something different...if we are talking about the match where Sigel shoots thru the 9 and the ball flies off the table at hill-hill I am almost positive that was the finals...I don't know which event however.
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It wasn't a finals match it was a match to get into the final 4. But Varner did go on to win that tournament and claim his 2nd in a row US Open 9-ball. Sigel ended up in 3rd place, Billy Incardona, 4th place and Johnny Archer 2nd place.
 
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