cincy_kid
Verified Member
Hey all, just wanted to post a summary of my experience this year!
First, it was good to see my onepocket.org bretheran as always. If I left anyone off, I apologize, but I saw: Mitch, Chicago Mike, Johnnytronic, Cal, Col Bille, Ben Hardmix, Jerry Matchin, John (Jealous44) and Peter (I forget his username but met him a couple years ago at the derby). and that may have been the only good part about it the trip!
As far as the new layout, its pretty much the same, all pool areas are in the same exact places. The main difference is when you are walking to the pool area from the far end, instead of booths and the escalators, its all casino slots and tables. All of which is smoking so you have to walk through it (ugh) each time. The good part though is all of the action tables were available so if you got a table or waited for one, you should be able to match up.
For action, I only played once with my buddy Mitch who was terrorizing all our members. Everyone he played he beat! That is until col bille came into the picture and got the best of him in the tourney itself! Good win there Bille, Mitch is playing good!
Mitch and I played one race to 3, he beat me 3-0 and and in those 3 games, I scratched 12 times (none were intentional, lol). Its hard to win when you can't keep the CB out of the hole! But he played well and deserved the win!
For the tourney, I played JJ and although I have not seen him play much, of course I know he is still one of the top players in the world, mosconi cup captain and all the pedigree he has, but for some reason I was thinking his main strength was his knowledge and moves but let me tell you, like most pros, the man does not miss! Any time he had a makeable shot in his hole, he made it. Ran out from everywhere. There were a couple of times where he played a good defensive shot but when he had a shot at his pocket he took it and made it.
Game 1, I broke (I won the lag yes!), and he found a cross corner through heavy traffic, sunk it and ran 6 more, he was almost straight in on his out ball a little above my side pocket and he shot and missed...the only shot he missed during the match mind you...I played a few good shots and got down to where we both needed 1 ball and it was my shot first at the out ball after running 3 balls....here was the layout:
My pocket is where the 3 ball is and this is close to the layout as I remember it. The 6 ball was a little funny to 2 rail towards my hole so I thought the best shot was to kick rail first at it and kick it 1 rail to my hole. I hit it bad and scratched behind it. I asked JJ if that was the right shot and he said yes but to aim the CB closer to the 6 on the rail with less spin...although I feel like I knew that, I certainly didn't execute it right...thanks for the tip JJ! The other 2 games was him pretty much running balls from everywhere. I only missed one shot and that was in the first game where it came down to one ball, so that didn't affect anything really. I am happy I got to play him and only wish I would have remembered to get a selfie with him after the match
-- I did ask him to drop by and post in some WWYD's if he gets some time, so we will see!
Now as far as the bad part(s), I know I said this last year too, but I think I mean it this time. I can't go to another derby until they change venues and maybe even format but the format may not have to change if the new venue has more tables.
Basically it all comes down to exhaustion. Maybe its just because I am getting older but I can't physically or mentally take it lol! If you stay in the casino itself for your room and can deal with the 1 or 2 food options they have there, it would lessen it some but still, any place you need to go to is 30 minutes each way! Then the whole time you are there at the event, you have no idea when you are going to play until they post it. I arrived Sunday morning at 9:45 AM and my first match was almost 25 hours later at 10AM the following day! No good for me, I come to play, I don't like sitting and waiting around. I am pretty impatient in that regards ha! You can try to grab an action table and play some but everyone's schedules aren't always synced up (some out eating, some sleeping from being up late the night before, some playing in the tourney, etc..) so sometimes it's hard to connect for a game.
I didn't even buy back in after I lost to JJ. I was afraid if I did, my next match wouldn't be until Tuesday...
I applaud all those who can do it and maybe envy you some, but for me, I will be sticking to MOTs when I am able to attend and hopefully other tourneys down the road that are better managed with table to player ratios.
Good luck to all those who are still in it!
PS - took no photos in the short time I was there, really missed having you around Steve for those pro shots you always take!
First, it was good to see my onepocket.org bretheran as always. If I left anyone off, I apologize, but I saw: Mitch, Chicago Mike, Johnnytronic, Cal, Col Bille, Ben Hardmix, Jerry Matchin, John (Jealous44) and Peter (I forget his username but met him a couple years ago at the derby). and that may have been the only good part about it the trip!
As far as the new layout, its pretty much the same, all pool areas are in the same exact places. The main difference is when you are walking to the pool area from the far end, instead of booths and the escalators, its all casino slots and tables. All of which is smoking so you have to walk through it (ugh) each time. The good part though is all of the action tables were available so if you got a table or waited for one, you should be able to match up.
For action, I only played once with my buddy Mitch who was terrorizing all our members. Everyone he played he beat! That is until col bille came into the picture and got the best of him in the tourney itself! Good win there Bille, Mitch is playing good!
Mitch and I played one race to 3, he beat me 3-0 and and in those 3 games, I scratched 12 times (none were intentional, lol). Its hard to win when you can't keep the CB out of the hole! But he played well and deserved the win!
For the tourney, I played JJ and although I have not seen him play much, of course I know he is still one of the top players in the world, mosconi cup captain and all the pedigree he has, but for some reason I was thinking his main strength was his knowledge and moves but let me tell you, like most pros, the man does not miss! Any time he had a makeable shot in his hole, he made it. Ran out from everywhere. There were a couple of times where he played a good defensive shot but when he had a shot at his pocket he took it and made it.
Game 1, I broke (I won the lag yes!), and he found a cross corner through heavy traffic, sunk it and ran 6 more, he was almost straight in on his out ball a little above my side pocket and he shot and missed...the only shot he missed during the match mind you...I played a few good shots and got down to where we both needed 1 ball and it was my shot first at the out ball after running 3 balls....here was the layout:
My pocket is where the 3 ball is and this is close to the layout as I remember it. The 6 ball was a little funny to 2 rail towards my hole so I thought the best shot was to kick rail first at it and kick it 1 rail to my hole. I hit it bad and scratched behind it. I asked JJ if that was the right shot and he said yes but to aim the CB closer to the 6 on the rail with less spin...although I feel like I knew that, I certainly didn't execute it right...thanks for the tip JJ! The other 2 games was him pretty much running balls from everywhere. I only missed one shot and that was in the first game where it came down to one ball, so that didn't affect anything really. I am happy I got to play him and only wish I would have remembered to get a selfie with him after the match
-- I did ask him to drop by and post in some WWYD's if he gets some time, so we will see!Now as far as the bad part(s), I know I said this last year too, but I think I mean it this time. I can't go to another derby until they change venues and maybe even format but the format may not have to change if the new venue has more tables.
Basically it all comes down to exhaustion. Maybe its just because I am getting older but I can't physically or mentally take it lol! If you stay in the casino itself for your room and can deal with the 1 or 2 food options they have there, it would lessen it some but still, any place you need to go to is 30 minutes each way! Then the whole time you are there at the event, you have no idea when you are going to play until they post it. I arrived Sunday morning at 9:45 AM and my first match was almost 25 hours later at 10AM the following day! No good for me, I come to play, I don't like sitting and waiting around. I am pretty impatient in that regards ha! You can try to grab an action table and play some but everyone's schedules aren't always synced up (some out eating, some sleeping from being up late the night before, some playing in the tourney, etc..) so sometimes it's hard to connect for a game.
I didn't even buy back in after I lost to JJ. I was afraid if I did, my next match wouldn't be until Tuesday...
I applaud all those who can do it and maybe envy you some, but for me, I will be sticking to MOTs when I am able to attend and hopefully other tourneys down the road that are better managed with table to player ratios.
Good luck to all those who are still in it!
PS - took no photos in the short time I was there, really missed having you around Steve for those pro shots you always take!
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