Singles Event Vegas 2011

I love Vegas, as it truly is my favorite city.  I enjoy the gambling aspect, of course, but I think it's the nature of the atmosphere that I like best.  Let's face it, it's an adult playground;  and I love it.  It's a place I can play Let It Ride with my friends around me while getting "free" drinks.  It always helps when the dealer is nice and friendly, too. Of course playing real money blackjack online allows me the freedom to never get upset over any rude dealers, thankfully.  

This was an interesting year for me in regard to my singles event in the BCAPL Nationals, much different from last year.  This year I focused on pool.

I can play casino games online throughout the year so I wasn't craving gambling on the onset of the trip. 

But, last year I admittedly went to have fun and didn't have any expectations about my singles event.  So, last year I drank every night, stayed out too late, but also had a blast! It's almost difficult to admit I went to a ten-day pool tournament and didn't care how I faired in the singles event, but it's true.

This year, I did focus on pool. I got sleep every night but one, only drank too much two nights (after being out of the tourneys) and what did all this preparation get me? Well... I was rested which felt wonderful not to be hungover playing pool, lol. But I ended up still getting a bad sore throat that I had the whole trip. Figures. And I placed higher in all events last year than this year. I don't know what it all means.... but I wanted to give myself a better chance this year than last, so i got sleep, didn't stay out late, didn't drink as much...and yet I didn't place better (actually, placed worse in all events).

BUT, I felt better. Even tho I got sick (which normally happens with lack of sleep and too much drinking), I still felt better than the previous year because I wasn't exhausted all the time. Wish I would have placed better this year but I did PLAY good almost every single game in all the matches I played (in all 4 events). Not too shabby!

In singles I played so, so good, but yet I was out in three. I was heart broken. To play that good and lose over a few key out-of-position or funky scratches, was hard to swallow with how awesome my pre-shot routine is, how strong my mental game is, and how well I know the game of 8ball.   

It's very frustrating to think I really can win this tournament with how well I am playing right now, and then be out so quickly.  :(