cuetechasaurus said:
He's not past his prime, his prime is right now. Yang is playing the best 9ball in the world right now. It's not only because of his break, but he plays the percentages well and his safety play is greater than most. I still want to see him play Efren in a race to 120 or something like that, it would turn into a great match.
"Prime", was in a way joke as he's so young still. He played better at 2001-2003, than he's playing now. I believe he had some personal drama in his family, his mother got sick or something, and that had an influence in his game, and he hasn't found it completely after the dissapointments in the home WPC's 2004-2005.
He was the topic at the WPC in 2001-2003, when he played the best pool on earth, but for some reason or other, his time to win It wasn't then or even yet.
2001 there was Sardo, and the rack was made that 9 was on the spot. Mika, Souquet, Feijen and probably couple of others had mastered the cut-break. Asians not. It was winners break, and Souquet played perfect from rounds last 16 to the semi-finals. He beat Yang in L16 11-4, Chamat in L8 11-1, Lai in Semi-Finals 11-2 (not hard facts, but could be exactly like that, maximum +-1 marginal), so Yang was Souquet's dominations victim that year.
2002 he was concidered by all, the best. This year he run into Bustamante at Semi Finals. Busty hadn't played as good as Yang, but in that particular match - which was said to be the greatest televised match of all time - Busty ran out on him. Unfortunately I didn't see that match, but the word on the street told that Busty ran 4 pack, Yang ran 7 pack and Busty ran 7 and out. This might be little over exaggeration, as I also heard there was some safety exhange in the racks which were not ran out, but anyway 4 + 7 for busty, and 7 for Yang.
2003 he was playing the overall best again. He beat Souquet in Knock-Out stages with couple of innings and with marvellous safety play. He beat Mika easily in Last16, breaking 3-5 balls all the time (ok - maybe couple of times only 2
). That year Strickland was too much for him in quarters, Yang fought from 2-8 to 9-11 loss. Earl was playing his best that match, but got out of gas in the Semis against Thorsten, which was played at the same day with quarters..
2004 when WPC moved to Asia and Taiwan, the hopes were high, but he was just a poor shadow from past years. At that time it was rumoured that his mother had got sick.
He survived group stages, but didn't play any good. Cannot tell if he would have improved, as again he was dashed against a Monster. This time it was Manalo's turn to fly his highest flight, and he ran out from everywhere glueing Yang to his seat until hand shake. Manalo went to beat Busty and Efren with the same speed after that, until he ran out of gas also..
2005 I wasn't there, but the same karma conquerred again. He had won the big warm up event in the Philippines (with all the best from Asia + many other WPC attendants from USA & Europe). He had found his game again, but shocking dead stroke and the game of his life from Hundal, kicked Yang out this time. I don't know how many racks Hundal ran, but it was many.
2006 it was alternative break. Yang played ok - but still nothing compared to Cardiff years. I didn't watch his games, I recall he sent Archer to the bleachers, probably lost tight match to inform Souquet at the L32 round if I remember it correctly.
His break is by far the best and so is his jumping also.
If you don't count Efren - as he's the Magician - Yang's safety play is probably the best, or at least at par with the best.
So is his shot making and his pattern play.
He is very calm and fearless, and I used to say he is the most 'perfect' player in the world. When I saw him in 2004, I noticed that he is human after all, as he indeed were weak at that tournament.
I don't know what he's lacking; balls, heart, luck - or all of these, as he hasn't been able yet to win a major. If you read my examples, I think the luck is the biggest factor, but later also balls and heart. He is still the calmest player I've seen, but it's difficult to say will he overcome the problems/karma he has.
He's not the topic anymore, as other youngsters like Hohmann and Pagulayan stole it, and especially when his country fellow Wu took the title and also Chang and Kuo (with silver medals) showed some spirit.
Still, I remember at 2005 when Kuo (who lost the final at hill-hill to Wu) was interviewed, he said; "I was just hoping I don't have to play Yang".
I believe in Asia Yang still has - and will have - special fear factor.
I don't want to compare him to Efren, as Efren is un-comparable. Nobody will ever challenge Efren. Somebody might someday do something what Efren didn't do, but still Efren is untouchable IMHO.
It might be that Yang is a victim of his vanity, I don't know. Wu won his titles cos he was so focused on the balls, not the trophy nor the fame. Even Wu is in more troubles now - as he has tasted the limelights - lost his kilo's and changed his hair style
)
