When the Pros match up, what are Big Money matches really like?

Celophanewrap

Celophanewrap

Call me Grace
Silver Member
Once back in the early 90's I saw a money match between Johnny Archer and Danny Medina. I wasn't much of a pool player back then and had no idea what I was actually witnessing, but it was the first, and only, time I'ver ever seen a couple of pros match up for money instead of a title in some tournament. The opportunity rarely comes up here to see such a thing, and if / when it does I somehow never hear of it until after the fact, or I can't get a hall pass to watch. I've heard stories, but really, that's about it. I'd love it if some of you that have experienced this type of match up between pros would share your knowledge. What's the difference? How is the attitude and atmosphere different? What are the players like when there's significant money on the line? I can recall, I heard the match between JA and DM was for a fair chunk of dough but that was a rumor that I heard and I was one of what seemed to be about 1500 to 2000 people crammed into a pool hall to see the event, so for me the environment and the atmosphere was that of an NFL game, what's it usually, really like?
 
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It's like a unicorn flying over a rainbow!

Basically, what I'm saying, is I don't believe the scenario exists. When you see on here or Facebook about these "challenges". I believe what it comes down to is Skyler's group of friends (backers) will put up $10k vs Justin's group of friends (backers).

These friends want to live vicariously through their more talented friend.

The pro's are then, in essence, playing for a cut of the prize and playing to win in order to not cost their friends any money.

I'd be interested in hearing hard evidence that I'm wrong. But that is my belief in the world of professionals playing each other for the cheese.
 
back in the early to mid 90's...

Celophanewrap said:
Once back in the early 90's I saw a money match between Johnny Archer and Danny Medina. I wasn't much of a pool player back then and had no idea what I was actually witnessing, but it was the first, and only, time I'ver ever seen a couple of pros match up for money instead of a title in some tournament. The opportunity rarely comes up here to see such a thing, and if / when it does I somehow never hear of it until after the fact, or I can't get a hall pass to watch. I've heard stories, but really, that's about it. I'd love it if some of you that have experienced this type of match up between pros would share your knowledge. What's the difference? How is the attitude and atmosphere different? What are the players like when there's significant money on the line? I can recall, I heard the match between JA and DM was for a fair chunk of dough but that was a rumor that I heard and I was one of what seemed to be about 1500 to 2000 people crammed into a pool hall to see the event, so for me the environment and the atmosphere was that of an NFL game, what's it usually, really like?
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I think the internet has kind of killed the local networks. When big money matches like that happen now it's more planned to be a PPV online or something..

Back in the 90's we had a network and got calls at our pool hall when anything big was going down. I remember getting a call that Johnny and Francisco Galindo were matching up for big money at Francisco's poolhall in San Bernardino (GoldBall Billiards).

I went over and watched Francisco, (getting the 8), win 30K off of Johnny.

Jaden
 
Diamond69 said:
It's like a unicorn flying over a rainbow!

Basically, what I'm saying, is I don't believe the scenario exists. When you see on here or Facebook about these "challenges". I believe what it comes down to is Skyler's group of friends (backers) will put up $10k vs Justin's group of friends (backers).

These friends want to live vicariously through their more talented friend.

The pro's are then, in essence, playing for a cut of the prize and playing to win in order to not cost their friends any money.

I'd be interested in hearing hard evidence that I'm wrong. But that is my belief in the world of professionals playing each other for the cheese.
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Go to the US Open and sit in Q-Masters all week, you'll see plenty of unicorns flying over rainbows, you should get out more.
 
You're right. No stake-horses in either of those venues.

I'm not saying there aren't money games out there. And I believe the DCC has tons of high $ matches. I used to match up myself for high $ matches. But the OP was asking about "top pros" matching up.

My comments were stating that when they do match up for the $10k sets, generally speaking, it's not their own cash.

Even if they have their own cash and confidence (SVB), I believe he probably has friends that ask if they can have some of the action.
 
It's once every decade, that you'll see a Johnny Archer play a SVB, for money. it's just too tough of a match. "Pros" like them, want much lesser players to play for the money. They want to win money not struggle or break even for it.

The only other senario, is when one dumps a backer or has someone bet big on them then the players dumps again and chop up the dough later with the other player.
 
Good players do occasionally match up and when they do there can be some serious money bet on it. The TAR matches all had good money on the line, oftentimes it was a large bet between the players and their backers. I have personally been involved with Dennis Orcollo in several big money games in the last three or four years. He gave Oscar the 8, 9 & 10 ball and the match was worth 10K. I put up some and so did Dennis. Dennis even played Shane at my house for a thousand (One Pocket) a couple of years back.

Players who are close friends will rarely match up. But there are a lot of guys who will gladly play for money, with almost anyone. Early this year Dennis Hatch matched up with Carlo Biado for some serious money. I also had a piece of that game. Bottom line there absolutely are big money games between good players, even today. Come to DCC and you will see for yourself. :wink:
 
jay helfert said:
Good players do occasionally match up and when they do there can be some serious money bet on it. The TAR matches all had good money on the line, oftentimes it was a large bet between the players and their backers. I have personally been involved with Dennis Orcollo in several big money games in the last three or four years. He gave Oscar the 8, 9 & 10 ball and the match was worth 10K. I put up some and so did Dennis. Dennis even played Shane at my house for a thousand (One Pocket) a couple of years back.

Players who are close friends will rarely match up. But there are a lot of guys who will gladly play for money, with almost anyone. Early this year Dennis Hatch matched up with Carlo Biado for some serious money. I also had a piece of that game. Bottom line there absolutely are big money games between good players, even today. Come to DCC and you will see for yourself. :wink:
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Nothing like it was in the 70s, 80s and low 90s, Players would come in town and play whoever would play them, even, and it didn't take 2 weeks to make the game back then, like today! And they were betting just as much then as they bet today, probably bet more back then!
 
Thanks Jay. I think you helped support what I was saying. You hardly ever see a match over $5k where there isn't some form of backing between top pros.


jay helfert said:
Good players do occasionally match up and when they do there can be some serious money bet on it. The TAR matches all had good money on the line, oftentimes it was a large bet between the players and their backers. I have personally been involved with Dennis Orcollo in several big money games in the last three or four years. He gave Oscar the 8, 9 & 10 ball and the match was worth 10K. I put up some and so did Dennis. Dennis even played Shane at my house for a thousand (One Pocket) a couple of years back.

Players who are close friends will rarely match up. But there are a lot of guys who will gladly play for money, with almost anyone. Early this year Dennis Hatch matched up with Carlo Biado for some serious money. I also had a piece of that game. Bottom line there absolutely are big money games between good players, even today. Come to DCC and you will see for yourself. :wink:
Click to expand...
 
Whether it is top pros or c level players they
face the same problem. If they know the other
guys game real well then they know exactly
what weight makes for an even game. An
even game is a tough game and the result
is often a matter of the rolls rather than of skill.
As a result a real even game might as well be
reduced to the flip of coin. The pros know this
better than anyone. A big money game happens
when other factors stir things up or if one of the
guys thinks he has an advantage. That rarely
happens but when it does only a few folks know
about them. Usually because the participants want
it that way.

Jay didn't say but I would suspect their were fewer than
eight people at his house when those matches were played.

Joe
 
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