Dave’s Good Stuff

My Handicap: 3
Matches:

1. 3-2 (opponent rank: 3) W
2. 0-3 (opponent rank: 3) L
3. 3-4 (opponent rank: 6) W
4. 1-4 (opponent rank: 4) L

My Place: 6th
My Winnings: 10

My Handicap: 4
Matches:

1. 2-4 (opponent rank: 4) L
2. 4-1 (opponent rank: 2) W
3. 4-1 (opponent rank: 4) W
4. 4-0 (opponent rank: 4) W
5. 2-6 (opponent rank: 6) L

My Place: 3rd
My Winnings: 25

My Handicap: Jack
Matches:

1. 3-2 (J5 vs T2) L
2. 2-5 (J3 vs K5) L

My Place: n/a
My Winnings: n/a

My Handicap: 3
Matches:

1. 3-1 (opponent rank: 4) W
2. 4-2 (opponent rank: 4) W
3. 6-2 (opponent rank: 6) L

My Place: n/a
My Winnings: n/a

My Handicap: Queen
Matches:

1. 0-7 (J3 vs A7) L
2. 2-6 (J3 vs 6K) L

Place: n/a
Winnings: n/a

Yesterday, instead of the normal APA 8-ball tournament, we had a APA-based-house-rules 9-ball tournament. I’m continuing to improve, taking 3rd place this time around… even with an elevated handicap of 5 instead of 3.

There are really only two matches that stand out, the first, and the second-to-last.

The first was against a guy named Mike Robinson, who is the strongest player on my APA 9-ball team with a handicap of 9. He won the first one. Missed on the second game which allowed me to run out. Then he just took off and ran the rest of the racks for a 9-1 victory. Far from being frustrated by the outcome, I was just happy to be able to sit and watch him play… he’s quite good. Only a couple of times in 10 racks was his position a little bit off, and I think he only missed about 4 or 5 shots altogether.

The other match that stands out was against a guy named, I think, Kevin. He won the first. I won the second. Our third game started with me sinking the 9 on the snap. Ditto the fourth game. With two quick snaps, I’d pulled ahead 3-1. It’s rare that I’ll sink the 9 on the break (rare for anyone, actually), but to do it twice in a row was amazing. I think it threw him also, b/c the next two matches were shoe ins… he just seemed to have lost the will to live, which made it easy to win.

All in all, it was a fine day at the table. I started out really weak (Mike’s skill notwithstanding), and finally found my stroke about halfway into my second match. I beat a few people who aren’t as strong as I am, and a few who are as strong, if not stronger.

I’m looking forward to next Sunday now. :)

My Handicap: 5
Matches:

1. 1-9 (opponent rank: 9) L
2. 5-1 (opponent rank: 3) W
3. 5-1 (opponent rank: 3) W
4. 5-5 (opponent rank: 7) W
5. 5-3 (opponent rank: 5) W
6. 5-1 (opponent rank: 5) W
7. 2-4 (opponent rank: 4) L

My Place: 3rd
My Winnings: 35

I haven’t played in that many tournaments, but all the same, it feels like I’ve *finally* placed. Sure, I only got fifth, and with the $15.00 winnings, really only paid for my entry and table costs (yes, we do have to pay for the quarter tables… sigh), but it feels pretty good all the same. I’m not sure if I’ll place next time, but I’m sure as hell going to enter.

The first match was pretty much a gimme. He was sick with a cold, and isn’t an amazingly strong player to begin with (even compared to me). I had him 2-0, gave him a game, and then won the final game of the match.

The second game was against a considerably stronger player, who is also very much a (very funny, self-depreciating) smart ass. We went back and forth, until it was match game with the score at 2-3. He took the final game for the match.

Between the second and third matches, I had about an hour and a half to wait, so I hit some balls around on the 9′ tables to keep warmed up.

The third match was against a guy with a rank of 6, and he played it, if not higher. I can’t remember the exact progression of the score, but I ended up taking two while he took 5, which led us (once again) to match game. My second win was something I would really like to remember. He broke, sank a couple before he ran out of options and played a decent safe. I got out of the safe with a really low percentage shot, ran a few easy shots until I had two balls left before the 8, which left me halfway hooked behind one of his. A rail-first hit with high right sent the object ball all the way down the table, past the side pocket, and into the corner, leaving me perfect position on the last ball to get to the 8. My game. This left us at 4-2. He took the next game for a 5-2 lead, and on the last shot before the 8, he jawed an easy shot with perfect position on the 8. Unfortunately (for him) it was also perfect position on my last ball too, which had an easy way back to the 8. I took the match 3-5, but it could have easily gone his way.

The next match was against another Dave who I’ve developed a friendship with over the last few weeks. I’m a slightly stronger player than he is, but not by much. The only real noteworthy game here was the one that got me to 2-0. Simply put, I broke and ran out. This isn’t really that incredible a feat, but I don’t do it often, so when I do, it’s something. He won the next (once again, match game), and I took the last to win the match.

The final game was against someone I’ve seen but never met named Paul. Simply put, I choked big and bad, missing shots I could have made with my eyes closed.

All the same, I had a good day at the pool table. More than that, though, I’ve found myself on a 9-ball team that has made it to the national championships the last three years running. The league session starts Thursday (2002.09.05), so I’ve little time to think about it. In addition to Thursday league, they’re talking about dragging me along (as if dragging is needed) on Saturday nights to out of town pool rooms for other tournament play. The idea came up last Thursday night, and at first I didn’t really let it sink in b/c I didn’t want to be disappointed when they took me aside and said “Sorry, but it didn’t work out, we can’t have you on the team”, but after today I’m starting to get excited. I’ve wanted to get on a good team for a while, in order to better my game. I count myself very fortunate here, as it would be really tough for me to find a better local team. I’ve hooked up with some really good players (one of whom could go pro if he really wanted to), and by this time next year, I just may be able to say I’ve been to Vegas. :)

My Handicap: 3
Matches:

1. 3-1 (opponent rank: 2) W
2. 2-4 (opponent rank: 4) L
3. 3-5 (opponent rank: 6) W
4. 3-1 (opponent rank: 2) W
5. 0-3 (opponent rank: 3) L

Place: 5th
Winnings: $15.00