What is the best match you ever played and won?

Soooooo many good stories and matches!!!

This gets better and better! Keep the good stories and matches coming!!!
Thanks.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
have to be final match of the first tournament I won back in college. It was one of the McDermott 9-ball tournaments where first place won a "limited edition" cue. I played probably the best I had ever played at that point, not losing a match. Can't remember the score, but I ran away with the finals where I played a very good friend of mine at the time from Japan. I'm not sure he had a decent shot the entire match. If I wasn't running them I was locking him down.

sold the cue a couple days later for a semester's worth of beer and pizza money. Kinda wish I still had it, it was the TC1 in this link

http://www.mcdermottcue.com/timecapsuletc.php
 
It may not be the best I've played, but the first time I broke and ran out was the most special. I was playing 8 ball league against someone way better than me. It's game over almost anytime someone misses against him.

I hit one of my best breaks pocketing two solids and parking whitey right in the center. I got my shooting cue and starting analyzing the table realizing that if I took the solids I'd probably have to play a safety some time, he would get to the table, and it would be all over. Against all temptation I started my shooting giving the two balls to my opponent.

The layout had a couple of tricky shots, but I worked my way shooting balls towards the head string and then back down table towards the eight. I was almost surprised when each one fell, and each ball only mounted more excitement. By the time I got to the ball before the eight I could feel my face hot with nervousness and excitement with the possibility of doing something I hadn't done before just like finding yourself in alone in a bedroom with a girl for the first time. The ball dropped and left me with a little less position on the 8 than I would have liked making my guts twist just a little with the possibility of failure.

I steeled that in myself and started to see very clearly exactly how the shot needed to be hit. I leaned over to shoot and as soon as I saw the cue ball bounce of the tip of my cue I knew it was going, but I didn't move from my position.

As soon as it rolled over the ledge, it was the best feeling of accomplishment and relief. I told the guy that was my first break and run and offered to buy him a drink. He graciously refused, but I had one anyway. :thumbup:

That single game changed my attitude, and I no longer want to win, but am determined to win. I've shot much better from that day and practice with more focus.
 
tom mcgonagle said:
...thirty years ago, November, 1982.http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
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That is just depressing! LOL

Good stories in this thread. Mine would have to be coming from the loser bracket in a bar tournament. One guy shows up every week and this particular tournament is his ATM. I had to beat him in a race to 3 twice and did, 3-2 then 3-0 with a break & run on the last game of the 1st set, won the coin flip, B&R games 1 & 2 in the second set then broke dry. He hung the 7 ball and it was an easy out for the cheese.

Haven't won that tournament since, but that night sure felt great!
 
i played efren back in 75 in the Philippines..... played 5 games and i won 4, then he gave up.






(i wish)
 
Lots of well played gambling matches flashed into and out of my mind as I considered the question. Even in most of those, there were games or shots that I flat out failed on. The only time I ever felt like I played as well as I could for the duration was in an APA 9 ball match. I was a 6 playing a respectable 7, and I earned the only shutout I ever had against him. The combination of self achievement and having earned the max points for my team made it awesome, and his demeanor after the game was to congratulate me on playing well. There was nothing to diminish the experience, and that went a long way in making it one of the best wins I've pulled off.
 
The other day I was down 4-1 in a race to 5 against my friend and top local shortstop for a pitcher of beer playing 10 ball. Came back with 4 in a row to win. That felt pretty good. We generally play races to 5 for small things like shots or a beer, because I don't have a lot of money to lose. We play the same whether its for a beer or 50 bucks. We're both fiercely competitive.

I played a race to 5 against a top regional player for 50 a couple months ago. He gave up the 7 out playing 9 ball. I took him 5-2. A couple weeks later he wanted to win his money back, and I agreed to the 8. Took him again hill-hill.
 
Round robin race to 5 stage of a handicapped 9 ball tourny, it was alternate breaks and the guy was the highest HC of the group while I was the lowest. Anyways I win the lag and he was supposed to give me any legal shot for the first game win but I ran out the rack regardless. Then he broke dry, I ran out that table with a kick on the 1 ball (I'm too amateur to see good push outs). Third rack I ran out to put me up 3-0, fourth rack he broke dry yet again and left me no look at the 1. I pushed out this time to a tough full table bank and he gave the table back to me. I made the bank, ran to the 6 and messed up my position so I threw a safety at him... BIH, came back and ran out to get on the hill.

Then I broke dry and here is where the dogging started... I think I got way too cocky and thought I had the game locked down so I started playing rather recklessly instead of just doing what I had done the previous 4 racks. The guy took the next four in a row to get hill-hill (I shot at the 9 ball a total of three times in those 4 racks lol........). Last rack was my break again, I nearly make the 9 but it ends up about half an inch off the left long rail and a ball's distance from corner pocket instead. I make the 1,2,3 to get onto the 4 which was frozen against the previously mentioned left long rail... about two balls' distance from the 9 hanging dangerously by the pocket.

I had played quite a nice two rail position shot from 3 to 4 to get basically six inches away from the 4, but since the 4-9 combo wasn't in a perfectly straight line I had to make some adjustment. I didn't, and I just hit the 4 straight on and the 9 rattled the pocket. The other guy made the combo to win his fifth rack in a row + take the first game.

Second game of the same tournament I lost 5-4 as well after being 4-1 ahead. I lost all of my remaining round robin matches with 5-2, 5-2, 5-0, 5-1, and was sent home. The first four racks of that first game, though, was the most focused I have ever been in my entire life (I don't think I've put up racks against the 9 ball ghost more than 3 times in my pool playing time, yet I put up three in one single game and without BIH...)
 
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I beat Earl Strickland and won the Raleigh, NC Spring classic. At a Camel tour event I cashed by beating Jimmy Reed, Nick Varner, Efren Reyes, Allen Hopkins and Dallas West back to back. I double dipped Archer in his home town and did the same to Buddy Hall in his home town. I think the most gratifying match was playing David Howard in a Nevada Pro event and being down 8 to 0 racing to 9 I beat him 9 games in a row.
 
Hey Blue Hog,

Blue Hog ridr said:
For myself, it isn't the best match ever played and won. You might say its the best match never played.

Once, I phoned Earl Strickland at 2 Am and told him to get his butt up here to Canada and play me a few games. He told me to, Ummm, you know.

Well, if a pro like Earl is afraid to play me, how the heck can I judge my best match.

Anyone have Shane's number?
Click to expand...

Would you settle for Johnny Archer's number or Larry Nevel?
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Best match

Well i guess it has to be the match in 1970 in bremahaven germany i was stationed there with a apache indian and we played in day room a sat and sunday and i win 2300 buck-and keep my scalp!!!!:thumbup::thumbup:
 
Very good match for you.

stick8 said:
Well i guess it has to be the match in 1970 in bremahaven germany i was stationed there with a apache indian and we played in day room a sat and sunday and i win 2300 buck-and keep my scalp!!!!:thumbup::thumbup:
Click to expand...

That is a good amount of money to win too! Thanks.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Best Match Ever Played

In recent memory, a match I played in an APA MVP tournament.

I am an APA level 6 player in 8-ball and had won our local league MVP for the top tier, which includes APA 6's and 7's. I went to the MVP tournament and found that there were only 2 level 6 players and the rest were level 7. For an APA level 6 when playing a level 7 player, the race is 4 games for the 6 and 5 games for the 7. The matches were played on Diamond bar boxes, and it was single elimination.

I beat 3 level 7 players and then came up against one I consider the best in our area, considered a short stop on 9-foot tables, one who has twice placed 2nd in APA national 9-ball tournaments. I can play pretty good bar-box 8-ball, when I don't let my nerves get to me. Well, this weekend I was not feeling too great, had cramps in my legs and a splitting headache, which actually worked to my advantage. I didn't feel any nerves. So, I won the lag and broke and ran the first 2 games. On the third game, I played well and won, which put me on the hill, 3 games to 0. Then, my opponent got to play his great game and brought the score to hill-hill (3 to 4). By the last game, I wasn't playing as well, but got lucky and won. Although luck actually let me win, I still felt great that I earned my first 3 games. And, this was the first time my opponent ever lost an MVP tournament.

This win put me in the finals, and by that time I was so hungry, sick, and tired, I played terribly against the only other level 6 player in the tournament. I guess he was feeling just as bad, because I ended up winning him too.
 
Very good win for you!

sfvpool said:
In recent memory, a match I played in an APA MVP tournament.

I am an APA level 6 player in 8-ball and had won our local league MVP for the top tier, which includes APA 6's and 7's. I went to the MVP tournament and found that there were only 2 level 6 players and the rest were level 7. For an APA level 6 when playing a level 7 player, the race is 4 games for the 6 and 5 games for the 7. The matches were played on Diamond bar boxes, and it was single elimination.

I beat 3 level 7 players and then came up against one I consider the best in our area, considered a short stop on 9-foot tables, one who has twice placed 2nd in APA national 9-ball tournaments. I can play pretty good bar-box 8-ball, when I don't let my nerves get to me. Well, this weekend I was not feeling too great, had cramps in my legs and a splitting headache, which actually worked to my advantage. I didn't feel any nerves. So, I won the lag and broke and ran the first 2 games. On the third game, I played well and won, which put me on the hill, 3 games to 0. Then, my opponent got to play his great game and brought the score to hill-hill (3 to 4). By the last game, I wasn't playing as well, but got lucky and won. Although luck actually let me win, I still felt great that I earned my first 3 games. And, this was the first time my opponent ever lost an MVP tournament.

This win put me in the finals, and by that time I was so hungry, sick, and tired, I played terribly against the only other level 6 player in the tournament. I guess he was feeling just as bad, because I ended up winning him too.
Click to expand...

Great story also. Thanks for your input.
Many Regards,
Lock N load.
 
So I wouldn't say that it was the best match I playes but the most memorable one.

I had just turned 21 a couple years ago in Feb. and the APA 8 ball Southwest Challenge was coming up in March. So I decide as my 21st birthday present to myself that I would go to Veagas to compete. I was a four at that time, but I was a little underrated, I knew it and so did my team.

If anyone who doesen't know how they run the tourney, it is maxed out at 14 skill level for the team. It is also rotational posting, so you never get to post, the order of your team goes on for the whole tourney. It is also modified single elimination (every team is assured two matches.) It is a three man team so if my two buddies won the first round I would play the next first and so on.

So I'm a 4 and my teammates are 5's. We knew that I was a real strong 4 so we had a great team. Apart from that we were good friends, one of them was what I would consider a great friend, so I knew it was going to be a blast.

So the very first match I play first. I play a very good 3. I lost 2-0, which was a heartbereaker for me. I then learned that there a lot of underrated players when it comes to Vegas. My next player A loses also. So now we have to play all day, because we are on the loser's bracket. So we went on to wim the rest of the matches. Me and player C were kind of carrying player B. I didn't lose after that and neither did he.

So it was the end of the day and the next day whoever makes it cashes. The last match was at 10 pm I believe. and player B had to play first against another 5. He played better than previous matches, even had a break and run, but failed to win. So now its up to me and my homie. He's a 5 who played a solid 3. Manages to win 4-1.

So then it's me and their 6. They are from San Diego and we are from S. Orange County. He asked if it is okay to go the restroom, sure. I was pretty nervous knowing that if I lost we were out and only alcohol could cure my sorrorws. So the 6 comes back and he wins the lag. He broke and the 8 ball went 2 rails, which it did EVERYTIME he broke! Needless to say, everytime he broke I was worried. The first break I get my shot and fail to get out and he runs out like nothing. The next rack was the same story. So now I'm down 2-0 and all the weight I got was gone, it was an even race to 3. So he broke and missed a ball then it was me I run out some balls and managed to get to the 8. I dogged it, and pissed, knowing that I would be down 3-0. At that time a player from my league comes to watch the match. He tells me all I need was one game to put the pressure on him. So I watch him make balls untill he missed the ball before his key ball. So I'm thinking don't f**k up! He left me on the rail and the eight ball was in between the side and corner pocket. I was somewhat straight, only a small angle. I got down and started doubting myself. I get back up and say to myself "f**k it," I chalk my cue agian and get back down, took my warm up strokes and fired the 8 in. It felt good.

Now it is 3-1 and I need two games. I break and make a ball. I see the layout to run out. By now I had some confidence in myself. I fail to get out leaving to balls and the 8. Again I'm thinking F**K. By some miracle he misses his third or fourth ball and leaves me an easy three ball run. It's 3-2 now and I'm on the hill. By now there are a lot of people from my league watching my match since they are all done. That only pumped me up. I break dry. He runs some balls then misses. Now I know that it is time to get the f**k out. So I methodically run the balls and make the 8 to win. After that the 6 says to me, "Alex, you're my new favorite word for sandbaggin' four." I didn't take it bad just said "what do you mean" and shook his hand. I got high fives from everyone who was watching us and my teammates. I got us to the next day and to the cash. We saw him later that night and he apologized and told me I was a good shot. I gotta say that I felt like a king after that match. Just the feeling that a bunch of players from my leauge were there and they were able to say good job.

We went on to place 9th after losing to a team from our league. We woud have made it farther if I didn't dog my brains out in my match. But man, how good did it feel to have my team on my back and come out with the W! Best match I had so far, just because I pulled it out for my team and representing our area.
 
Very good story, I like it.

Foolio said:
So I wouldn't say that it was the best match I playes but the most memorable one.

I had just turned 21 a couple years ago in Feb. and the APA 8 ball Southwest Challenge was coming up in March. So I decide as my 21st birthday present to myself that I would go to Veagas to compete. I was a four at that time, but I was a little underrated, I knew it and so did my team.

If anyone who doesen't know how they run the tourney, it is maxed out at 14 skill level for the team. It is also rotational posting, so you never get to post, the order of your team goes on for the whole tourney. It is also modified single elimination (every team is assured two matches.) It is a three man team so if my two buddies won the first round I would play the next first and so on.

So I'm a 4 and my teammates are 5's. We knew that I was a real strong 4 so we had a great team. Apart from that we were good friends, one of them was what I would consider a great friend, so I knew it was going to be a blast.

So the very first match I play first. I play a very good 3. I lost 2-0, which was a heartbereaker for me. I then learned that there a lot of underrated players when it comes to Vegas. My next player A loses also. So now we have to play all day, because we are on the loser's bracket. So we went on to wim the rest of the matches. Me and player C were kind of carrying player B. I didn't lose after that and neither did he.

So it was the end of the day and the next day whoever makes it cashes. The last match was at 10 pm I believe. and player B had to play first against another 5. He played better than previous matches, even had a break and run, but failed to win. So now its up to me and my homie. He's a 5 who played a solid 3. Manages to win 4-1.

So then it's me and their 6. They are from San Diego and we are from S. Orange County. He asked if it is okay to go the restroom, sure. I was pretty nervous knowing that if I lost we were out and only alcohol could cure my sorrorws. So the 6 comes back and he wins the lag. He broke and the 8 ball went 2 rails, which it did EVERYTIME he broke! Needless to say, everytime he broke I was worried. The first break I get my shot and fail to get out and he runs out like nothing. The next rack was the same story. So now I'm down 2-0 and all the weight I got was gone, it was an even race to 3. So he broke and missed a ball then it was me I run out some balls and managed to get to the 8. I dogged it, and pissed, knowing that I would be down 3-0. At that time a player from my league comes to watch the match. He tells me all I need was one game to put the pressure on him. So I watch him make balls untill he missed the ball before his key ball. So I'm thinking don't f**k up! He left me on the rail and the eight ball was in between the side and corner pocket. I was somewhat straight, only a small angle. I got down and started doubting myself. I get back up and say to myself "f**k it," I chalk my cue agian and get back down, took my warm up strokes and fired the 8 in. It felt good.

Now it is 3-1 and I need two games. I break and make a ball. I see the layout to run out. By now I had some confidence in myself. I fail to get out leaving to balls and the 8. Again I'm thinking F**K. By some miracle he misses his third or fourth ball and leaves me an easy three ball run. It's 3-2 now and I'm on the hill. By now there are a lot of people from my league watching my match since they are all done. That only pumped me up. I break dry. He runs some balls then misses. Now I know that it is time to get the f**k out. So I methodically run the balls and make the 8 to win. After that the 6 says to me, "Alex, you're my new favorite word for sandbaggin' four." I didn't take it bad just said "what do you mean" and shook his hand. I got high fives from everyone who was watching us and my teammates. I got us to the next day and to the cash. We saw him later that night and he apologized and told me I was a good shot. I gotta say that I felt like a king after that match. Just the feeling that a bunch of players from my leauge were there and they were able to say good job.

We went on to place 9th after losing to a team from our league. We woud have made it farther if I didn't dog my brains out in my match. But man, how good did it feel to have my team on my back and come out with the W! Best match I had so far, just because I pulled it out for my team and representing our area.
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I am proud of you and I was not even there! You did great when it counted the most. Thanks for your input!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
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