What Was 2015 Match of the Year?

[Masayoshi]

Lots of good responses in this thread.

One of the questions that arises is the extent to which the size of the moment factors into the quality of the match.

Certainly SVB vs Ko Pin Yi was not the match that Ko Pin Yi vs Wu Jiaqing was at the World 9-ball Championships, but the stakes were higher with the title hanging in the balance.

Alex vs SVB at the Derby City 9-ball was not even a good match, but the circumstances made it huge and truly memorable. The semifinal between Sossei and Kiamco was a much better match, but the moment was smaller.

It has gotten me thinking. The best matches are only sometimes the most memorable and the circumstances of a match figure significantly in its potential for greatness.

Let's see what 2016 brings. The Derby is just three weeks away. Are you ready?

While the moment does matter, it is not everything. If the wpc finals this year is the match of the year, you might as well chalk up the wpc finals every year as the match of the year because the level of play was probably the least impressive I have seen for that high profile of a match.

On top of that, the semi finals isn't much less of a moment that the finals, at least on par with the finals of any other tournament around.

 

[sjm]

While the moment does matter, it is not everything. If the wpc finals this year is the match of the year, you might as well chalk up the wpc finals every year as the match of the year because the level of play was probably the least impressive I have seen for that high profile of a match.

On top of that, the semi finals isn't much less of a moment that the finals, at least on par with the finals of any other tournament around.

Well said. Point well taken.

 

[spartan]

My choice is Ko Pin Yi vs. SVB in the final of the World 9-Ball Championship. Two superstars battling for the biggest title in pool is as good as it gets. What do you think was the match of the year in 2015? Was it one of these? Nominate your own if you like.

Nice thread :thumbup:
Depends on criteria used
Based on technical performance, I would say that Ko v Wu W9B 2015 semifinal

Based on bigness of occasion, excitement level, then I agree it is that epic Ko v Shane W9B 2015 final. Simply cos, we may never see these 2 titans do battle again in a W9B final, Unlike old days, it just is exponentially more difficult these days to get into W9B final.
Arguably, the most thrilling final since Wu v Kuo in 2005. Though, Appleton v Li He Wen 2012 was pretty good too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLQxT6GqVSE

Honorable mentions:
2015 World 10 Ball Final Ko Pin Yi v Carlos Biado
https://youtu.be/WXpvqdxoNoU?t=19917
Ko played flawless for much of match until Biado caught a gear and threaten to snatch the title in front of a Filipino home crowd

World Chinese 8 Ball Final Appleton v Selby ($100K to winner)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAaL7ZERSxA
Some may say C8B is not exactly pool but it is close.
Pool v Snooker? A contrast of styles and Darren showed why he is best 8 ball player on planet earth

World Cup of Pool final -Taiwan v England B
OK, this is doubles not singles.
Behind 1-5 and breaking bad and dry for most of match and tourney , Ko/Chang Yu Lung somehow managed to comeback and win
Memorable for this monster shot https://youtu.be/BlzuGj3ifOc?t=5407
:grin: