'that was all flash and dash...'
that's what i heard from a spectator as i ran out 4 balls to win my 5th match at the pool tournament yesterday. holy moly - i seriously couldn't believe I won my 5th match against Carlos. I "woke up" after making the 9ball - Carlos shook my hand and said 'great game - you are good player'. I was in shock - i'm like "I won???" I was so high...I went to the ladies room and when i saw myself in the mirror my face was flush from excitement.
Carlos is a very aggressive, intimidating player and an amazing shot. He just hits the balls too hard - as a result of this - occasionally makes mistakes. it was those mistakes I was able to take advantage up and barely hang in there. He was ahead most of the match and a one point I had resigned myself to losing. But i shook that thought from my head and i just stayed in the moment.
In that last game I knew the only thing Carlos had to do was make 3 more balls and I knew I was close to winning but I didn't exactly remember how close. I guess it came down to whoever made the last 9 ball in that rack. Carlos made a mistake on the 6 and I was able to combo the 7 in which left me with a tough cut shot on the 6. I made the 6 and had awkward shape on a 8 ball shot the length of the table. I lined up my shot, got down low on the ball and executed the shot perfectly and left myself a straight in easy shot on the 9. I made the 9 - whew!
That match with Carlos was one of the highlights from a long day.
I arrived at the pool hall at 10am and left at 6pm. I played 6 matches - I think I finish in the 5th/6th position out of 30+ players - one better slot than my performance at the last tournament.
Match 1 - Patty. She a deliberate, steady shot - but i was able to dominate the match from the start by consistently running 4 or 5 balls. I felt bad as I saw her get discouraged but I didn't let up and decisively won the match.
Match 2 - George. I was playing very poorly this match and couldn't seem to make more than one ball at time. It was frustrating because I didn't know what I was doing wrong. He started playing really well and I fell behind. I was able to rally and make a come back and he ended beating me by only a few points. It ended up being a close match but I couldn't pull it off. Off to the losers bracket for me. :(
Match 3 - Tom. I had played Tom the last time I played this tournament and he beat me. I felt I had 'laid down' a bit the last time we had played so i vowed to myself I wouldn't do that this match. I don't remember exactly that happened that first rack but I ended up making all the balls in that rack. I played fairly consistently and was able to stay end and win the match.
Match 4 - Neil. I had played Neil the last time at this tournament - he had been my first match. During this match - my stroke was on! I think I was consistently running - 5, 6, or 7 balls at a time. I heard Neil say 'if i just miss once she runs out on me'. I felt bad that he was discouraged but I didn't let up one bit and I won pretty decisively.
Match 5 - Carlos - the aforementioned match. :)
Match 6 - Steve. While watching matches earlier - Steve and I had a nice chat. He's a super nice guy and we talked the whole gambit of pool. We seemed to be on the same wavelength in pool philosophy.
I was glad to be able to play against him.
The first rack was pretty even. The 2nd rack I played a safe on the one and got ball in hand. I ran the entire rack out after that. I can still see it in my mind's eye. It was a awesome out with a break-out shot and pretty much perfect shape on every ball. It was sweet. At this point I had jumped ahead on the match but from that point on Steve was very focused and dominated the next games. I was only able to make about 2 or 3 balls per rack. He played well...it got to the point where I only need to make 3 more balls but I couldn't get there and Steve won and put me out of the tournament.
Aftermath - I left the pool hall in a great mood. I tell you - playing in pool tournament provides all the thrills and self discipline and highs/lows of mtn biking...except if you mess up there's no blood involved. ;)
Carlos is a very aggressive, intimidating player and an amazing shot. He just hits the balls too hard - as a result of this - occasionally makes mistakes. it was those mistakes I was able to take advantage up and barely hang in there. He was ahead most of the match and a one point I had resigned myself to losing. But i shook that thought from my head and i just stayed in the moment.
In that last game I knew the only thing Carlos had to do was make 3 more balls and I knew I was close to winning but I didn't exactly remember how close. I guess it came down to whoever made the last 9 ball in that rack. Carlos made a mistake on the 6 and I was able to combo the 7 in which left me with a tough cut shot on the 6. I made the 6 and had awkward shape on a 8 ball shot the length of the table. I lined up my shot, got down low on the ball and executed the shot perfectly and left myself a straight in easy shot on the 9. I made the 9 - whew!
That match with Carlos was one of the highlights from a long day.
I arrived at the pool hall at 10am and left at 6pm. I played 6 matches - I think I finish in the 5th/6th position out of 30+ players - one better slot than my performance at the last tournament.
Match 1 - Patty. She a deliberate, steady shot - but i was able to dominate the match from the start by consistently running 4 or 5 balls. I felt bad as I saw her get discouraged but I didn't let up and decisively won the match.
Match 2 - George. I was playing very poorly this match and couldn't seem to make more than one ball at time. It was frustrating because I didn't know what I was doing wrong. He started playing really well and I fell behind. I was able to rally and make a come back and he ended beating me by only a few points. It ended up being a close match but I couldn't pull it off. Off to the losers bracket for me. :(
Match 3 - Tom. I had played Tom the last time I played this tournament and he beat me. I felt I had 'laid down' a bit the last time we had played so i vowed to myself I wouldn't do that this match. I don't remember exactly that happened that first rack but I ended up making all the balls in that rack. I played fairly consistently and was able to stay end and win the match.
Match 4 - Neil. I had played Neil the last time at this tournament - he had been my first match. During this match - my stroke was on! I think I was consistently running - 5, 6, or 7 balls at a time. I heard Neil say 'if i just miss once she runs out on me'. I felt bad that he was discouraged but I didn't let up one bit and I won pretty decisively.
Match 5 - Carlos - the aforementioned match. :)
Match 6 - Steve. While watching matches earlier - Steve and I had a nice chat. He's a super nice guy and we talked the whole gambit of pool. We seemed to be on the same wavelength in pool philosophy.
I was glad to be able to play against him.
The first rack was pretty even. The 2nd rack I played a safe on the one and got ball in hand. I ran the entire rack out after that. I can still see it in my mind's eye. It was a awesome out with a break-out shot and pretty much perfect shape on every ball. It was sweet. At this point I had jumped ahead on the match but from that point on Steve was very focused and dominated the next games. I was only able to make about 2 or 3 balls per rack. He played well...it got to the point where I only need to make 3 more balls but I couldn't get there and Steve won and put me out of the tournament.
Aftermath - I left the pool hall in a great mood. I tell you - playing in pool tournament provides all the thrills and self discipline and highs/lows of mtn biking...except if you mess up there's no blood involved. ;)
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