WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP (6-10 June2021) Champion $50K
- Thread starter spartan
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It's over, 11-5, Albin on to the semis where he'll play David Alcaide. My sense of things is that David is playing better pool than Albin right now, but we know that Albin possesses a gear that, if he finds it, David will be hard pressed to match.
The other semi will be Szolnoki vs either Kaplan or Al Shaheen, so we're guaranteed to have a Cinderella reach the final.
The other semi will be Szolnoki vs either Kaplan or Al Shaheen, so we're guaranteed to have a Cinderella reach the final.
Yeah, though I knew of him, Omar came onto my radar at the 2019 Derby City Classic, at which he had a high finish in all three major events, including second in banks. Rock solid all-around player.
At this point, I'm happy with the 4 remaining and would be happy with whomever takes the title. I like the Cinderella story of Szolnoki being SVB sparring partner and coming in to win. Especially after giving so much grief about getting all the rolls on SVB. Helps validate it wasn't all luck. I think my next preference would be David. I've always been a fan. And then probably Albin 3rd as I like the way he carries himself. Don't know much about Omar, so he comes #4 on my list by default.
It is interesting that on the stream, there's a strong middle-east presence on the chat. Good for pool.
No doubt the Szolnocki story is one for the ages. I'm not aware of a bigger underdog ever winning a pool major. Some will say Darryl Peach in 2007, but I'd say Darryl was a world top 75 when he won. Others will say Tommy Kennedy at the 1991 US Open or Reed Pierce at the 1995 US Open, but while both of those were shockers, I would not agree. No doubt, when Larry Lisciotti, coming from the losers bracket, double dipped Steve Mizerak in the final of the 1976 PPPA World Straight Pool Championship, it was a huge and unfathomable shock,
... but Oliver Szolnocki, at 767 Fargo, is well outside the top 100 players in the world. Of course, that won't be true if he wins two matches tomorrow.
Can anyone think of a greater underdog winning at a big field, multi-stage pool major (World Championship, China Open, US Open, All Japan)?
The final four are set:
Omar Al Shaheen (Kuwait) Fargo 777 vs Oliver Szolnoki (Hungary) Fargo 767
Albin Ouschan (Austria) Fargo 806 vs David Alcaide (Spain) Fargo 796
Both matches feature payers whose Fargo rates differ by 10 points, so the semis look like near coin tosses.
Thursday should be memorable.
Omar Al Shaheen (Kuwait) Fargo 777 vs Oliver Szolnoki (Hungary) Fargo 767
Albin Ouschan (Austria) Fargo 806 vs David Alcaide (Spain) Fargo 796
Both matches feature payers whose Fargo rates differ by 10 points, so the semis look like near coin tosses.
Thursday should be memorable.
I predicted more upsets than normal early on!
Yeah, Lebron merits mention here for sure. At 54 years of age, his chances seemed marginal, and his 1988 win over Nick Varner in the final was, in the perspective of history, most unlikely, as Varner's 1989 campaign, the finest of his career, included 16 titles.
SilentLurker
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2 x World 8 ball champion, Melling?
Nice call. Kawabata is definitely in the conversation.
You're right. It doesn't look like he had done much in terms of 9ball, but probably not as big an underdog.
Interesting question. No idea how highly rated his play was entering the WPC by those in the know.
