Why did you REALLY lose at this year's SBE?

inside_english

inside_english

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am referring to all of the amateur tournaments. There were so many players this year, and everyone has a story. I am interested in everyone's take on why they lost their matches.

For me, it was nerves.

I won my first match in the Wednesday Warm-Up, then lost my second due to nerves. It went to the hill in the 3rd set and I had a 50-yard cut on the 9 and dogged it.

Then, in the Open I won my first three matches and lost the 4th...again due to nerves. It was one round before the money and I put an enormous amount of pressure on myself. As a result I over-shot balls all weekend (the tables were quite fast and I did this in every match) and my opponent wisely capitalized on every mistake I made. He beat me 5-3, 5-3 to knock me out.

Bitter loss...especially considering I lost one round before the money in both events last year as well. I managed to cash in the second-chance scramble last year, but my nerves did me over.

My right arm felt like it weight 200 pounds and my heart was pounding like I drank some sort of Jolt Cola / Red Bull concoction.

Time to try meditation, I guess.

So, what happened in your matches? What did you in?
 
inside_english said:
I am referring to all of the amateur tournaments. There were so many players this year, and everyone has a story. I am interested in everyone's take on why they lost their matches.

For me, it was nerves.

I won my first match in the Wednesday Warm-Up, then lost my second due to nerves. It went to the hill in the 3rd set and I had a 50-yard cut on the 9 and dogged it.

Then, in the Open I won my first three matches and lost the 4th...again due to nerves. It was one round before the money and I put an enormous amount of pressure on myself. As a result I over-shot balls all weekend (the tables were quite fast and I did this in every match) and my opponent wisely capitalized on every mistake I made. He beat me 5-3, 5-3 to knock me out.

Bitter loss...especially considering I lost one round before the money in both events last year as well. I managed to cash in the second-chance scramble last year, but my nerves did me over.

My right arm felt like it weight 200 pounds and my heart was pounding like I drank some sort of Jolt Cola / Red Bull concoction.

Time to try meditation, I guess.

So, what happened in your matches? What did you in?
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have a little trouble makeing it to that money round,well you arent they only one my friend.
 
Gambling until 5:30 am was my downfall! Had a match at 3 on Thursday, then 11pm. Won my second match but decided to take a trip downstairs to the pit and gamble until 6:00 am with a 10am match against Jordan Grubb. Bad idea, I thought I was going to throw up because my head hurt so bad from lack of sleep. He flat out outplayed me for sure, but I definitely did not help myself in any way.
 
I feel your 200lb arm and belly full of up-juice!

I think it is just a matter of putting yourself in that situation more regularly. Not sure there is a whole lot one can do, it shows that it is important to you and the goal is to turn the nerves into something productive.

Easier said than done, I know. I am still looking for the secret too!
 
inside_english said:
I am referring to all of the amateur tournaments. There were so many players this year, and everyone has a story. I am interested in everyone's take on why they lost their matches.

For me, it was nerves.

I won my first match in the Wednesday Warm-Up, then lost my second due to nerves. It went to the hill in the 3rd set and I had a 50-yard cut on the 9 and dogged it.

Then, in the Open I won my first three matches and lost the 4th...again due to nerves. It was one round before the money and I put an enormous amount of pressure on myself. As a result I over-shot balls all weekend (the tables were quite fast and I did this in every match) and my opponent wisely capitalized on every mistake I made. He beat me 5-3, 5-3 to knock me out.

Bitter loss...especially considering I lost one round before the money in both events last year as well. I managed to cash in the second-chance scramble last year, but my nerves did me over.

My right arm felt like it weight 200 pounds and my heart was pounding like I drank some sort of Jolt Cola / Red Bull concoction.

Time to try meditation, I guess.

So, what happened in your matches? What did you in?
Click to expand...

This is an easy one. Because I suck. First match; I won the first set 5 - 0, was up 4 - 2 in the second and could not close it out and lost the third.

Then I went to Fox and Hound and played some of the best pool of my life.

I guess that is just the way it goes sometimes...

Oh well, I had a great time nonetheless.
 
English,

I know exactly why I lost my three matches. In the foolish belief everything would be the same as past years, I entered all three events. Knew I'd have conflicts eventually. I won my 8:00 AM third round match in the Open. Was immediately notified I had to forfeit either the Open money match or the first round match in the Seniors. I received no relief from the TD. Played my money match in the Open and lost. Could not calm down. My fault completely. Thankfully, me and my opponent worked out a "saver". In the Super Seniors, lost the match for 3rd / 4th because my opponent played great. Sure hope Ed won the event. He played smart and got a few key rolls.

Did I play poorly? Did I choke? Not a chance. Think I played as well as I ever have at SBE. Need to choose more wisely next year. Seem to have hit a wall though. Three times now I've had the opportunity to get to 3rd / 4th and did not get there. Maybe it is nerves? Don't think so!

Lyn
 
JDB said:
This is an easy one. Because I suck. First match; I won the first set 5 - 0, was up 4 - 2 in the second and could not close it out and lost the third.

Then I went to Fox and Hound and played some of the best pool of my life.

I guess that is just the way it goes sometimes...

Oh well, I had a great time nonetheless.
Click to expand...
This made me laugh out loud for real.
 
I lost because I am mentally fragile. I had a super tough game Wednesday night with a player who ended up winning the warm up. It went to the hill all 3 sets with me winning the first and him the second 2. Both times I had to sit in the chair while he ran out on the hill. I figured ok nothing I could have done, alternate breaks and a short race etc etc. So Thursday I play my first round with a strong player from New York who I felt I would beat easilly. Well a couple good rolls for him/bad rolls for me I lose 5 3 the first set. This is the point that "fragile" mind did me in, as he began to make mistakes in the 2nd set and I failed to capitalize. I lost again 5 4. I just thought I would have an easier match than Wednesday night and you just can't go into a match thinking like that. I took all my frustrations to the 10 dollar 10 ball table and started by running a 4 pack lol so all was not lost. I ended up winning pretty good Thursday night, and matched up with another player Saturday which also ended in my favor. I also had an amazing doubles match with Linda thrown in the middle there and we were beat by better players, but had a great time nonetheless.
 
Pay attention to the rules. During the 10AM players meeting, there was a guy next to me that kept yapping on the cellphone. So, I didn't hear all the rules, but now how what expenses are involved in operating an 18 wheeler. In retrospect, I should have asked him to take his conversation outside.

After reaching 2-3 in my first set, my opponent told me that it the set was over (race to 5 games).
 
ctyhntr said:
Pay attention to the rules. During the 10AM players meeting, there was a guy next to me that kept yapping on the cellphone. So, I didn't hear all the rules, but now how what expenses are involved in operating an 18 wheeler. In retrospect, I should have asked him to take his conversation outside.

After reaching 2-3 in my first set, my opponent told me that it the set was over (race to 5 games).
Click to expand...

If you only played 5 games in the set, you got royally screwed! Race to 5 means the first one to win 5 games wins. I hope I misread this.

bob
 
I lost because I always play like crap at tournaments. I just don't have a voice going off in my head, I have two or three! I actually played decent in the Open. Had several break and runs. But he did too. He eventually won the third match 5-4. He then went on to win the next two matches after that, so he was not a slug. In the seniors, I caught a bye then won my first match (second round). Lost Saturday morning at 8 in two very close sets. But I just couldn't make the difficult shot to put it away and he did.

Hadn't played in this tournament in ten years. I'm absolutely kicking myself I have not gone in so long. I had the best time even though the guy I came down with was a total pain in the *** (he had too much to drink by 11am each day). Can't wait until next year. Sign me up!

Bob
 
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I was there for only 6 hours on Friday and beat Raj Hundal! Then I lost to Rodney Morris. Both were races to one.

<The Ginky Memorial challenge matches>
 
Heart Attack!! Was what happened to me. I was playing the warm up match Wed. night and was playing really well I thought. I was up 2 to 0 first set and started feeling strange and lost 3 to 2. Broke out into a cold sweet in 2nd set but won anyway. Now 3rd set as I remember it was 1 to 1 and I broke and ran the 3rd rack and it hit me. My arm and chest was hurting so bad I could not do anything. I told the guy I was sick and had to go. Next thing I know I was in the hospital having a stint put in and didn't get out until Sat at noon. O well and least I pulled through that part of it. Now onto recovery
 
Well I played ok all weekend even on the match that knocked me out but what really pissed me off was some douchebag on Wednesday night ripped me and two other dudes off for a total of $120 down in the pits. Eddie Abraham just made a sick jump cut shot into the corner pocket to start his runout and the next thing you know the guy disappeared into the crowd, never to be seen again the rest of the weekend. First time that's ever happened to me. Started the weekend off on the wrong note for sure although overall I did pretty good on side bets downstairs.
 
Yikes, glad you were able to get to the hospital in time. You made a smart decision to not push it any further.

mr8ball said:
Heart Attack!! Was what happened to me. I was playing the warm up match Wed. night and was playing really well I thought. I was up 2 to 0 first set and started feeling strange and lost 3 to 2. Broke out into a cold sweet in 2nd set but won anyway. Now 3rd set as I remember it was 1 to 1 and I broke and ran the 3rd rack and it hit me. My arm and chest was hurting so bad I could not do anything. I told the guy I was sick and had to go. Next thing I know I was in the hospital having a stint put in and didn't get out until Sat at noon. O well and least I pulled through that part of it. Now onto recovery
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I sucked, won first set 5/4 on other players misfortune. Then lost second set 5/2, and third set 5/1 in which I hung 3 - 9 ball's :(. It also didnt help not playing until 9:00 pm, 12 hours of hanging around waiting to play (that sucked).:angry:
 
I lost because I wanted to maintain my proud tradition of not winning there. Okay...so that's only half correct. I tend to play down to my opponents at this event...except in the case when I actually get a quality opponent. In that case, they usually just beat the tar out of me based on skill alone. This year was a case of the former. I just couldn't get my game together and in the end, I was second guessing all my decisions regarding shot selection, speed, safeties, etc.

It's too bad...I have been playing good 9-ball this league season and I just didn't bring it with me to the SBE, yet again.
 
Itsnotme said:
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
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The unknown factor in the equation was Allen accepting two hundred additional entries on Wednesday night. Thats one hundred extra matches not planned on. Same number of tables. Same TAP event starting Friday. Also the luck of the draw. Most Senior boards had several conflicts. Very few Seniors escaped the conflicts. Really poor planning IMHO. They're going to happen. Just not before the first match!!!! In past years I had conflicts. On Saturday, not Friday at 11:00 AM. Oh well. No one ever said I was sane anyway!

Lyn
 
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