IT'S ALL ABOUT POOL

26Sep 2023 by Colin "Wookie" Sheil

wnt. 2023 Us Open Pool Championships, Day 2

US Open Recap, Day 2 Today started with the second half of the first round, and it had legends and juniors and current stars right out of the gate. Here is a run down of the days action. Sam “Ryno” Henderson, just 16 years old, who incidentally turns 17 in a couple days (if my info is correct) started off with Fedor Gorst. I think nerves go the better of him, and if you combine that with Fedor’s brilliant standard of play the youngster was not able to show all his skills. Fedor prevailed 9-1. I was impressed with Sam’s technical approach to the game and his patience, but today wasn’t his day. I wouldn’t be surprised if he does win this even some day. He is still in in…

25Sep 2023 by Colin "Wookie" Sheil

wnt. 2023 US Open Pool Championships

Day 1 US Open update:As you can imagine, there were a ton of matches today. Most played out like you would expect, with most of the familiar names making it through to the third round without too much trouble. SVB, Yapp, Filler, Ko Pin Yi, Carlo, and FSR to name a few. There were some notable misses though, like Corey Deuel getting by Ko Ping Chung 9-6 as noted in the last post.Chris Reinhold got past Mika Immonen 9-8, despite Mika's strong second-place finish at the Turning Stone Classic XXXVII at the start of the month. Lucas Fransico-Vernier a young American star on the rise, was sent to the B side by solid journeyman Francesco Candela Shane Wolford failed in his bid to pass Toh Lian Han 8-9. You may…

01Jul 2023 by Colin "Wookie" Sheil

World Cup of Pool: Day 5, The Quarter Finals

Philippines v Chinese Taipei What a start to the day! Our first match did not disappoint. Johann Chua and James Aranas came out on fire! They were 6/0 up so quick it was hard to believe. The Ko brothers started to chip away and split the next 4 racks, 2/2 but that put the Philippines team on the hill. Chinese Taipei took over from there, with no more lives, they clawed their way back slowly but surely, with great shotmaking and position play, they slowly closed the gap and soon it was 8/8!! Ko Ping Chung broke and made the one, but Ping Yi missed the 2, letting Chua back to the table. With everything on the line, they didn't disappoint, and with beautiful precision, ran out the last rack…

30Jun 2023 by Colin "Wookie" Sheil

World Cup of Pool: Day 4

I have to apologize, I've been too busy to do write ups the past couple of days but I didn't want to miss a third day, so here it is. Over the past couple days, we've eliminated quite a few teams, but there haven't been too many surprises. Phillipines are still there, taking out Spain B 7/2. They looked good and didn't give Spain B many opportunities. They have a difficult task ahead tomorrow as they face Chinese Taipei. Speaking of which, Chinese Taipei was victorious again today as they absolutely punished the Netherland's team 7/2. I think they are only getting better as the tournament progresses and I just don't see the Phillipines getting past them tomorrow? China, visible releived to get by Singapore, will be up against Japan.…

27Jun 2023 by Colin "Wookie" Sheil

2023 World Cup of Pool – Day 1 run down, Day 2 run through

2023 World Cup of Pool Lugo, Spain Day 1 Notes: Spain v Philippines Philippines able to get by Spain 7-5, Spain played better than I expected and Philippines not quite as well. The score line is a bit better than anticipated, but not by more than 1 game or so? Good Match. Will be interesting to see if Philippines can tighten up and shore up a couple of small issues. Greece v Singapore Alex and Nik were a little shaky. I thought Sharik Sayed was going to be the weak link, but he played ok. The stats show how close it was, but in the end, Singapore had the edge in the only stat that really matters. Remarkably close match. Canada v Myanmar. Alex was very loose to start, and…

25Jun 2023 by Colin "Wookie" Sheil

WNT: Spanish Open Final

Marc Bijsterbosch versus Dang Jin Hu. No one predicted this final but it was a good one. There was excitement and drama. I reviewed their paths to the final in the Main Review and they have both played well to get here. Neither man consistantly dominated their opponents, with Marc having 4 out of his 5 matches in the last 64 going hill hill and only finishing one early, 10/6. The emotional roller coaster this man has been on the last few days must have been something so incredible. Unbelievable gutsy performance. Dang Jin Hu, didn't face a sinlge hill hill match this whole event, finishing all his matches without letting his opponent to the hill, until the final. Marc, maybe worn out from the emotional and physical cost of…

24Jun 2023 by Colin "Wookie" Sheil

WNT: Spanish Open

SPANISH OPEN REVIEW Stage 1 didn’t have too many surprises, but some notables to note make it through the round of 64 were: Jonas Souto Comino, Lo Ho Sum, Thorsten Hohmann, Wang Can, Gerson Martinez, Mika Immonen, Robbie Capito, Wojciech Szewczyk, Elliott Sanderson. These players got through undefeated: FSR, Max Lechner, Konrad Juszczyszyn, Albin Ouschan, Fedor Gorst, Jayson Shaw, SVB, Tyler Styer, Ko Pin Yi, Naoyuki Oi, Gary Wilson, (may be a bit of a surprise to send Mario He to the B side, though he would still make it through.), Eklent Kaci, Mieszko Fortunski, Johann Chua Whereas the following came through the one loss side: Sky Woodward, Neils Feijen, James Aranas, Oliver Szolnoki, Dimitri Jungo, Joshua Filler, Mario He, John Morra, Ko Ping Chung As you can see, still…