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The Big One — Why I Wish I Was in Sheffield

Posted on 27. Apr, 2012 by .

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My favourite snooker event of the year is just entering the second round. Eight of the qualifiers upset their seeded opponents. I’m not enough of a snooker historian to know how that compares to other years, but it seems high to me. In fact, I’d like to know the complete list of unseeded players to reach the finals or win the event.

Watching the tournament live is a real pleasure. Thanks to interweb goodness, it can be done from our continent.

Guide to watching the Snooker World Championship from Minnesota:

Here’s the schedule to the matches. Remember we’re UTC minus 6 hours.

http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2204252,00.html

Here is the link to real time scoring so you can determine if there is a live stream. Also check the results tab and the players tab for results and current odds.

As of now, Judd Trump is the fav at 10/3. Robertson and O’Sullivan at 4/1, Higgins at 7/1 and Gilbert at 250/1.

http://livescores.worldsnookerdata.com/LiveScores.aspx?t=12972

The streams are here, but sometimes require some work to chase them down. The second round still has 2 table action, so check the chat and the schedule to help you find the match you’d like to see. Freddy does a great job with his site.

http://www.actiweb.es/freddy49sports/

Where in the world is this tournament? http://g.co/maps/s4w6r

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Hair-Raising Tip, PoolSynergy Style

Posted on 15. Feb, 2012 by .

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Readers,

Thank you for visiting my website. I apologize for the infrequent posts lately. I wanted to do my best for this month’s PoolSynergy assignment, but have run out of time. Pitching tips is right up my alley, but I couldn’t put words to the page in time. So, here’s just one quick tip and be sure to click on the “31 Tips in 31 Days” tag for plenty of other succinct tips for your game.

Make sure you’re seeing clearly. For best eyesight while playing, keep your eyebrows in check. This is especially important for players who get their chin right down on the cue and don’t wear glasses. If a couple of eyebrows are dangling down, it can be a minor and almost unnoticeable distraction. The blurring effect can be so minor it doesn’t really register, but it does. Clip those brows or do what Dennis Hatch does: he moistens his fingers and flattens out those bushy rascals before a big set.

Check out John Biddle’s intro and links to all this month’s topics here.

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Snooker: The Masters

Posted on 18. Jan, 2012 by .

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This is my third favourite snooker tournament of the year after the World Championships and the UK Championships. Still, it’s a great 8 days of snooker!

June asked a question on the forums and I thought it would make a perfect post. Sorry for the derailment of my post a day this month. Hand problems fouled things up. Epic post is in the works. Stay tuned.

I have a couple of Snooker Rules I need to find out about:

 

1) If you are shooting at a Red and miss the ball, does something happen with points and does the cue ball stay where it stops?

2) My understanding is if you scratch, you need to put the cue ball in the 1/2 circle and shoot it from there.  If the last Red is behind the 1/2 circle, can you shoot directly at it from the 1/2 circle?

3) Can any combination shots be made with Reds?

4) Can any combination shots be made with a Red and Colored ball?

5) If you are shooting at a Colored ball and scratch, what happens with points and the cue ball?

 

I think that there are more things that came up last night, but I can’t remember right now so I might have to ask again later.  It would probably help if I watched the game, but I haven’t had a chance to.

Oh June, thanks so much for asking. I’ll do my best to type quick and accurate answers before I go to bed. I’ve got to get up at 6:25am for what could be a great match: [color=#BF0000]Ronnie O’Sullivan vs. Judd Trump.  Naughty snooker indeed![/color]

 

1. If the referee deems that the shooter didn’t make an all out attempt at making a good hit on a red, he may be called on “A foul and a miss.”  Example, a simple one rail hit on one red is possible, but the shooter hits a lag speed three rail kick towards a red that will be safe. (not a sell out like the one rail kick)  The minimum penalty is 4 points awarded to the non-shooter. If the blue, pink, or black is contacted the penalty is the value of that colour. The incoming player can ask for the balls to be restored in the case of a miss and the shooter must make another attempt. At world class levels, players have replayed a shot 5, 6, or more times. It is better on occasion to give up 20 or 30 points in fouls rather than sell out and give up 50+ and the frame on the incoming player’s next break. (Break is what a run is called in snooker.)

 

2. If the white drops in a pocket, the incoming player must shoot from the D. At any time, they can shoot at a red that is in baulk, or the lowest colour available if all the reds have been potted.

 

3. Plants (combination shots) can be played on reds at any time and are legal. Plants cannot be played on colours. i.e. If you pot a red and shoot the pink, the cue ball must hit the pink first and it is the only ball that can be potted. If a red or other colour flukes in, it is a foul stroke.

 

4. See # 3.

 

5. See # 3 and here’s more info. Colours are always spotted on their own spot immediately after being potted whether a foul stroke or not. They are spotted on the highest value spot if their own spot is occupied or obstructed. Referee’s ball markers used when cleaning the white also can be used as a measuring device to ascertain availability of said spot. If the colour is potted and the cue ball scratches, the ball is spotted and the cue ball is in hand by the incoming shooter in the D. Penalty is awarded to the non-shooter for the value of the ball during the foul stroke or 4 points, whichever is larger.

Cheers,

Mike

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Tip #4: How much room do I need for a pool table?

Posted on 04. Jan, 2012 by .

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Tip #4/31 for January. What size pool table should I buy for my home?

This one is a great tip suggested by June Maiers. Props to June! She’s a great player of all games and runs an excellent junior league program. She wrote to me, “How big does your room need to be if you are trying to fit a 7-foot, 8-foot or 9-foot table? I saw a few Craig’s List adds where the person said they bought the table, have it and now need to get rid of it because it didn’t fit.”

Kramer plays pool in a tight home room.

Well, I say having a pool table in your home is great but if you have to resort to a short cue too often, it can take some of the joy out of playing the game. Many homes have rooms large enough for a table but have one trouble area. You know, maybe there’s one wall that’s a little too close and if the cue ball is frozen on that rail you’ve got to shoot with a cue that’s a foot shorter than the standard 57″ one piece pool cue. Some rooms are a little better and only have a post that hampers that one shot out of 500. Lucky you! Jacking up or using a short cue rarely is a fine trade off. If your table is really too big for the spot, playing can be maddening. Try to get a table as large as you can handle that won’t make you crazy. Remember, it’s nice to have a little breathing room around for spectator chairs and for the non playing shooter to hang out without having to lean on the table.

I have a great relationship with one of my sponsors Peters Billiards in Minneapolis. They’re a great retailer that sells Brunswick and Olhausen pool tables. I’m attaching a pdf file that has their recommendations on what size room will accommodate what size pool tables. And if you’re ever in the area of 35W and Crosstown, please stop into the store. Tell ‘em the Billiard Coach sent ya.

 

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