So what's wrong with being a tournament player. Albin will make more money than just about any pool "gambler" this year. There are more tournaments with larger prize funds than ever before. If I were a top player I would be focusing on playing tournaments, and not waste my time trying to match up with someone. Overall, gambling is a losing proposition for all but a few unique players like Dennis and ...........There's probably at least 20 guys on the planet that Albin would have a very hard time beating in a high-stakes gambling match, even playing 9-Ball. Albin's a top 25 guy in overall all-game talent, but he ain't no SVB, Filler, Shaw, Wu, Kaci, Chang, Biado, Orcollo, Raga, etc... These experienced gamblers would rob him in straight up money matches. Albin's success is in tournaments. I love the guy btw, one of my favorite players, a class act, but he's not a gambler. He's a tournament player.
Well said Jay. I see a very exciting future for the pros.So what's wrong with being a tournament player. Albin will make more money than just about any pool "gambler" this year. There are more tournaments with larger prize funds than ever before. If I were a top player I would be focusing on playing tournaments, and not waste my time trying to match up with someone. Overall, gambling is a losing proposition for all but a few unique players like Dennis and ...........
Nothing. Like I said, he's a specialist, and makes a fine living being one. But his OVERALL pool skillset isn't as good as most of the top players. Albin would NEVER play SVB straight up for cash, not in 2016, and not now. Albin's top gear game isn't as strong as SVB's, never was. Nor is it as strong as at least a dozen other top players. Albin just has the mental desire/strength to play at near 100% in tournaments more than most others. He did in today's final, for example. But, unfortunately for him, SVB also did, and SVB's 100% crushed him...So what's wrong with being a tournament player. Albin will make more money than just about any pool "gambler" this year. There are more tournaments with larger prize funds than ever before. If I were a top player I would be focusing on playing tournaments, and not waste my time trying to match up with someone. Overall, gambling is a losing proposition for all but a few unique players like Dennis and ...........
It was still on DAZN.How were you able to do that? Can I do that?
I think it's easily argued that Albin is still the very best, not just because of what he's won, but because of who he has beat to get to the finish line. In the last six months alone:The World Pool Championship may not be 18-hour grinds, but it is a hell of a lot of pool in a short time & Albin has won that back to back. Coming in second in this most recent event in no way diminishes the extremely strong play he's shown the past 6-12 months. I would put him in the top 3 in the world right now, not just top 25.
SVB's story absolutely makes a good human interest piece for the mainstream media. And it's powerful enough to go beyond the "hearing-impaired guy is a good pool player" narrative. Could segue into how differently pool is played/viewed in Europe and Asia compared to America to help illustrate the challenge of winning his World 9 Ball title.He told me at the U.S. Open in September that he had just re-upped with Cuetec for five years. So, we at least get him for the next four and a half years. After that, it's anyone's guess. Really happy for the dude though. And, in a few days the whole country should be being introduced to him with a piece on 60 minutes.
The 60 Minutes piece has been delayed until the Fall Season beginning in Sept. This is due to the current emphasis on the Ukraine war.He told me at the U.S. Open in September that he had just re-upped with Cuetec for five years. So, we at least get him for the next four and a half years. After that, it's anyone's guess. Really happy for the dude though. And, in a few days the whole country should be being introduced to him with a piece on 60 minutes.
But they could do a Bitcoin commercial last night though...The 60 Minutes piece has been delayed until the Fall Season beginning in Sept. This is due to the current emphasis on the Ukraine war.
There's probably at least 20 guys on the planet that Albin would have a very hard time beating in a high-stakes gambling match, even playing 9-Ball. Albin's a top 25 guy in overall all-game talent, but he ain't no SVB, Filler, Shaw, Wu, Kaci, Chang, Biado, Orcollo, Raga, etc... Albin's two world champ tournament wins don't intimidate these players lol. These experienced gamblers would rob him in straight up money matches.
Albin's success is in tournaments. I love the guy btw, one of my favorite players, a class act, but he's not a gambler. He's a tournament player.
I was just thinking about that 60 Minutes piece and came here to see if anyone had any news about it. What a great way to end the segment, with him winning the world championship.Don't normally watch 60 minutes...hope somebody here gives a heads up when it's going to show.
The 60 Minutes piece has been delayed until the Fall Season beginning in Sept. This is due to the current emphasis on the Ukraine war.
Gambling is merely pool's side show, and nobody is suggesting that it isn't entertaining.So what's wrong with being a tournament player. Albin will make more money than just about any pool "gambler" this year. There are more tournaments with larger prize funds than ever before. If I were a top player I would be focusing on playing tournaments, and not waste my time trying to match up with someone. Overall, gambling is a losing proposition for all but a few unique players like Dennis and ...........
Just FTR, "Frisco Jack" Cooney is in the One Pocket Hall of Fame.Gambling is merely pool's side show, and nobody is suggesting that it isn't entertaining.
Thankfully, just as you say, tournaments are offering a chance to make a pretty big income for the elite players. Elite players focusing on tournament play are thriving, and one such player is Shane, who over the last six months won bronze at the International 9-ball, bronze at the Premier League Pool and now gold at the WPC.
Wanna know who's the best? Put all the giants of the game in the same place at the same time --- the last man standing is the best. Right now, that man is Shane. Soon, it will likely be someone else.
I don't care who wins long races any more than I care who'd win if the Yankees and the Red Sox play a 36-inning game rather than the customary nine. I've never heard much mention of a player's gambling accomplishments during the many BCA Hall of Fame inductions I've attended, and that's as it should be. Gambling success is not the measure of greatness. That's why Jack Cooney, possibly the greatest pool gambler ever, isn't in the BCA hall of fame. And, no, it's not about the money either, because if it is, the super-rich guy who beat his friend out of five million dollars over a game of pool should also be in the BCA hall of fame.
Greatness is, and will always be, measured in titles, and Shane has just captured the greatest title of them all, and it means more than all the gambling matches he has ever won combined.
As pro pool continues to mature and there are more top shelf events with increasingly larger prize funds, gambling will fall off more and more. A little research will uncover pro golf was heavy with gambling and eventually evolved into the game it is today. You don't hear much about pro golfers "matching up", it's been all about tournaments for decades. I hope pro pool evolves into like minded success and I think Matchroom has this vision.Just FTR, "Frisco Jack" Cooney is in the One Pocket Hall of Fame.
As to whether gambling or titles better measures success, IMO it used to be the former but now it's the latter. BITD there weren't enough tournaments to get a reliable sampling, and gambling among the top players like Hall, Lassiter, Bugs, Searcy, etc., was far more prevalent. But today it's different, and tournament success is a better measure of true talent against top competition than the ability to win a few high stakes races.
Great post. Bob Dylan was right! The times, they are a changing.Just FTR, "Frisco Jack" Cooney is in the One Pocket Hall of Fame.
As to whether gambling or titles better measures success, IMO it used to be the former but now it's the latter. BITD there weren't enough tournaments to get a reliable sampling, and gambling among the top players like Hall, Lassiter, Bugs, Searcy, etc., was far more prevalent. But today it's different, and tournament success is a better measure of true talent against top competition than the ability to win a few high stakes races.