Confidence Playing in Big Tournaments - an example

I'm always a tad jealous when I see players who are excited about playing in upcoming tournaments that I know I would be super anxious and nervous to play in.  

I believe (still) this stems from the "test anxiety" issues I've had all my life. I have freaked out due to nerves before many big exams in college and also for job interviews. And so I have talked a lot about how I had jitters before almost every big tournament. I honestly feel I would have won BCAPL and ACS State tournaments much sooner in my pool journey if I didn't have "test anxiety" or "title tournament jitters."  I would just get psyched out before even making the drive to the events, lol.

So, when I read on Facebook a friend of mine, Tyler, was excited to play in the US Open 9-Ball Championship this year, I was like, "look at him - how cool is that that he's excited."  

If you haven't heard, the US Open 9-Ball Championship is no longer held on the East Coast in Virginia Beach in October.  It is now headed by Matchroom Sport and it moved to Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas this April.  Here is what their website says about the tournament:

The US Open 9-Ball Championship comes to Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas as America’s most prestigious billiards tournament is relaunched by Matchroom Multi Sport with a record-breaking prize fund.

One of the biggest titles in world 9-ball, the US Open sees the best players on the planet battle it out over three breathless days to reach to the final 16, after which all matches are sudden death knockout played under the TV lights in front of an international audience.

The US Open roll of honor is a who’s-who of billiard legends and is now under the banner of Hall of Fame promoter Barry Hearn, whose Matchroom Multi Sport company are renowned in billiards for the Mosconi Cup, World Pool Masters and World Cup of Pool.

Tyler won a Qualifier in February to the US Open. Here is that flyer and a photo of him from the tournament that I stole from Facebook for this blog post, lol:

I congratulated him on the win of the qualifier and he replied, "Thank you! Going to be neat to go to that event! I'm excited."

I thought to myself: Excited? Dude, you are playing top pros of the world! Aren't you scared and nervous? "Excited" is not the word I would use. "Petrified" or "Crazy" maybe. hahaha.

See, there's the difference - I would be nervous, apprehensive, and be shaking already and yet he's freaking excited. 

However, I admit I am thrilled and get impressed by that mentality and really love to see that type of positive, confident attitude, because it's so opposite of mine.

But, it got worse! Someone shared on his Facebook page this article about the "Unprecedented field for US Open 9-Ball," stating, "Upcoming US Open 9-Ball field is hands down the strongest field we've seen."

And of course Tyler exclaims, "Going to be an awesome event! Stoked to be able to play against the best players in the world!"

If only I had a smidgeon of his confidence and excitement to play in tough events...

Go get 'em, Tyler!

Does Added Money Deter You?

I was pretty shocked last year when a pro player was in the area for a funeral. No...I wasn't shocked he was in town for the funeral, but I was shocked what I heard him say about a potential tournament he could play in.

He was asking about tournaments in Texas that we're coming up for the weekend and I found one flyer on my phone and showed it to him.  It happened to be a really big tournament, which is right down his alley because he is a top Pro.

He looked at the flyer and immediately said, "They're not really adding a lot of money - the flyer implies that, but the added money is just coming out of the large green fees.  It's not worth it for me to go."

So, I tried to find another tournament for him. I did find another flyer and he looked at it and he exclaimed, "Hey, no large green fees and true added money- I'll go to that one."

I have two thoughts about this.

What I think is pretty sad is the state of pool.  It's so bad Pros have to decide if they can attend a tournament or not based on how large the green fees are compared to the added money. Golf and Tennis players don't have to even worry about stuff like that - but pool Pros do because there's just simply not enough money in our sport for them.

The other thought I have is about us amateurs.

Amateurs don't think of things like this. Most of the amateurs I know just want to experience lots of different tournaments, experience new places to play, experience competing against people that maybe we wouldn't normally get to play, etc.  When we look at a flyer of a pool tournament we are interested in, the last thing on our mind is, "What is the green fee and are they adding good money?"  We just want to play pool!  We just want to compete!  So, us amateurs are actually pretty lucky we don't worry about such things.  Why?  Because we aren't hitting the pavement trying to make a living at playing pool like the pros, so we can just go and enjoy playing in any tournament we wish to play in (well, if we can afford the expenses, of course).

In all my years of playing pool, I hadn't heard a player state it wasn't worth it for them to play in a certain tournament because of the reasons this guy said.  It really took me aback.  But, I suppose it does make sense.  As long as they have options of different events, the pros almost need to choose the ones that have better added money and less green fees.

Friends Away From the Pool Table

I remember very vividly I had to play Vivian Villarreal in a pro tournament (the Ultimate 10-Ball Challenge) here in the Dallas-area about 6 years ago.  I wasn't playing top pool back then, but I could still hold my own at times.

I knew Vivian was going to defeat me.  She was a pro and I was barely an amateur lol.  But Vivian and I are friends - she grew up in San Antonio and so did I and we've been friends FOREVER.  I even used to be her webmaster, so this isn't my imagination that we are friends, people!

So when I saw we had to play each other, I felt very calm going into the "pro arena" knowing I'd be playing a friend my first match and it really helped my nerves.  I looked at her more of a friend than a top WPBA Pro Player.  I also secretly thought to myself that she would be easy on me because we were friends.  You know, not really torture the newbie, be kind to me.

I was wrong.

Dead wrong!

She NEVER let up!  She treated me like everyone else - someone she needed to get through to win the title.  I was merely a stepping stone, not at all a friend.

WTF?!

LOL.

I think I lost 9-1 or something.  I wasn't too embarrassed for losing so badly, but I admit I had really hoped for like a 9-5 score where she would not play so tight a few games and I could get more beads on the score board, but OH NO.

I wasn't embarrassed, though, because I had been too busy watching this master on the table.  She wasn't timid, she was confident, she was making shots and getting in line - I was in awe.  And I was grateful to witness it so close (even if I was her opponent getting beat lol).

The thing is, she did EXACTLY what she was suppose to do.  We aren't friends on the table.  We hugged before and after, but that was it - it was all business - as it should be.

I had incorrectly assumed she would be "nice" to me.  And yet she should do no such thing!  And, she knows this.  There is no friendship - and she plays pool for a living and can't be trying to be nice to the amateurs in tournaments!  She needs to make that money, play tight.

I find it interesting I had these thoughts back then.  I was so naïve for sure!  When I was on top of my game, I'd rather her play tight and try and beat me 9-0!  Instead, as a newbie and a VERY green amateur, I had hoped for a bit of saving face, lol.

Great lesson she taught me that day!

Tattoo of Your Fav Pool Player (photo)

You know you've really reached celebrity status when someone gets your face tattooed on their bod.

Actually, the Ashton twins (JoAnne and Beverly) from Canada are already well-known pool players and quite famous.  They have endorsements and such, too.  SUPER fun gals to hang out with and will make you smile every second you are around them! 

And, check this out:

No matter what you think (stalker, crazy, ouch), this is pretty damn cool!

JoAnne Ashton and her likeness:

Courtesy of Sean Johnson's back.

Women's International Pool Championship

The Women's International Pool Championship is going on right now in New York, December 16th-21st, 2014 at Steinway Cafe-Billiards.

I actually got an invite!

I could not believe it, really.  I was very honored they thought of me.

But I could not take a week off of work, could not afford the airfare, nor the entry fee (about $500 or so), plus all the NY expenses, lol.

Plus, and most importantly, I do not even care if I play with the pros or not.

I'm just not interested honestly.  

I don't put in any practice and I'm not even close to the pro level, so why spend all that money to go?

I found out I could save a smidgen of money b/c I could have stayed for free, but still - airfare and entry alone was over $1,000, plus losing 5 days of work. 

It just wasn't feasible to me.

I will say that I have played in a pro event (the WPBA Women's U.S. Open) and I LOVED the experience!  I even won a match  :)  lol.  But, it was within driving distance and I shared a room with another player.  And, I only had to take about two days off from work.

I will never forget that experience, ever.  

But the cost of playing/flying/staying in NY is not worth it for me.   

Ironically, I'm not even jealous of all the pics and posts from the event from my friends.  I'm just happy for them that they get to play the game we love in such an awesome setting!  And one of my friends, Debra, has never played in a pro event before and I am SO excited for her!  She will love reflecting like I have with my first pro event.

Ultimate Experience

I entered the Women's Division of the Ultimate Ten Ball Championships that was held in Frisco, Texas the weekend of April 23rd.  I signed up to play in the tourney for three main, important reasons:

• it was a pro event that I could enter (some events are limited to just the top WPBA players), 
• it was close to where I live (no travel expenses were needed except gas) and 
• it would be a great experience for me.

I admit it was pretty convenient to play in a pro event close to home.  If the tourney had been just 4 hours away, I wouldn't have gone.  But to be able to not pay hotel expenses and the venue to be only about an hour from my house was pure bliss!

Plus, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to play in a pro event like this.  Most pro events are WPBA events and I am not ranked high enough to even get an invite.  So, I was anxious about craving this rare experience.

This tournament would be even more enjoyable because the male pros were playing alongside the female pros.  So I as walk into the arena to practice on the Diamond 9-foot tables before the 9pm Thursday night Player's Meeting, I'm among the top echelon of the pool world.  I admit this blog entry would have more child-like, star-struck, "guess who I just met!" comments if I didn't know all the pros already.  Alas, I already know all the male and female pros, so for me it was more like a cool family reunion than being in awe of my idols like some of my friends were (which was very cute to witness!).

But to name drop, I got to hug and say hi to:  Johnny Archer, Darren Appleton, Rodney Morris, Donny Mills, Lee Brett, Krisit Carter, Monica Webb, Gail Glazebrook, Cristina Dela Garza, Angel Paglia, Alex Pagulayan, SVB, Kelly Fisher, etc. etc. 

I felt special to be able to watch all the pros mingle and catch up Thursday night before they got to work beating each other up on the table.  :)  Even though they are out for blood, they are all friends off the table.

I got my badge, practiced, listened to the rules by TD Ken Shulman and then hung out with friends at my favorite jaunt - Vinos.  I yearned for a relaxing evening before I played at noon the next day.

It's not official til you get your badge.  ;)

Even though I knew my lack of competing over the last 6 months would do me no favors, I was surprised how calm I was.  But, grateful that I was calm!  And not overly nervous or full with anxiety.  As Cristina Dela Garza has stated in her blog, you gotta get out there and play and put yourself in pressure situations.  I truly believe deciding to play in the Women's US Open back in July helped me not be so nervous about this event.

I was excited when I found out my first match was against only Vivian Villarreal. ("only," lol).  Seriously tho - she is a fun player and a friend of mine, and so there would be no embarrassing moments for me when I played her.  I would be in a fun atmosphere with her and not be intimidated if I missed shots (which leads to stress and embarrassment).  Instead, I was looking forward to the match.

Alas, I only won one game in a race to 7, but I still had fun and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her play so smart and well.  She's always a treat to watch (I wish she would have won the tourney!).  I joked with her afterwards:  thanks for hooking yourself on that 8ball so I could win a game.  lol.  :)

That match was at noon on Friday and to utilize my next 6 hours well to still be prepared for my evening match), I watched matches and rested.  Yea, I mingled with friends, too. 

Me and my pal, Juan - his first Pro event!

My 10pm match was rescheduled to 8pm.  Then about 7:45pm Tourney Director Ken points to me and then the stream table and states, "Hey Trigger, you and Sunny on the stream table at 8pm."

Oooohhhh!  I was so excited!  I immediately tell my boyfriend in front of a crowd, "I'm on the stream table.  Woo-Hoo!"  He's like, "really?"  And I was all smiles as I walked briskly to grab my stuff from my practice table.

At this point.  Nerves set it.  I can feel my adrenaline rise exponentially.  I walk by the tourney director's table and I overhear Sunny - she is stunned we will be on the stream table.  She expressed to me she has been playing bad and the people on the chat will complain to see someone "banging balls into the rail and wasting their time."

I was surprised she told me ahead of time that she was not playing well.  I wanted to take advantage of that inside knowledge because I knew that meant she would be more nervous on the stream. She is a dear friend of mine and she genuinely cares for me, and I for her.  But I knew she was already apprehensive about how she was playing.

Me on the stream table

As the match started, I could see how nervous she was.  Yet I was extremely comfortable - I knew I would have support from the chat room and I also felt comfortable on the Diamond tables.  I had no fears or anxiety as the match started.  I tried not to think of the stream and who might be watching.  I knew those thoughts would only interfere with my game.

But as everyone knows - crazy things can happen in any match.  I didn't let this get to me, but I got hooked - A LOT.  At first it was from her misses, but then it was from her good safes.  Every accidental miss that hooked me I tried smile off and not let it get to me.  But if I didn't have to kick so much from missed shots early in the match, the outcome would have been different.  The first two games I lost because I had to kick at a ball and left her a two-ball out.  But, from experience I knew not to let it get to me.

However, I did falter at the speed of my draw shots.  Two shots cost me a game - I drew the ball too much.  I don't draw well, but Diamond tables do.  So, I would over-draw at crucial times which caused me to have to play safe instead of running out.

I tied the score at 3-3 and was pleased I made a comeback from being down 0-2 (I think).  At 3-3 I was scared of a tough 9ball sitting frozen on the long rail and hoped she would have to face it, not I, lol.  But, I was allowed back at the table to face my fear.  But I nailed it!  I had just learned to use center, not top, on the long rail shots that I normally missed, so I was so pleased to see it fall nicely into the pocket!  But, then .... I missed the 10ball!  :(

In the next game I make another tough but strong shot on the 9ball.  I had to cut the 10ball in and while stretching, I put some English on the cueball on my last stroke and threw the 10ball away from the pocket enough to miss it. :(

I was now down 5-3 in a race to 7 because of those two crucial misses.

My boyfriend was giving me the "you got this" look and "it's okay" as I sat tall, still filled with pride that I wasn't going anywhere yet!  

 Me and Brian - we clean up nice, huh?  Brian played in his first pro event!

Sunny then got some extra confidence (I assume because of the score?) and she started to shoot much better.  She then grabbed the next game to get on the hill first.  I still wasn't worried.  I was waiting for my opportunities and still felt I could win. Score 6-4 her.

While she was running out for the win, she got jacked up over the 10ball and missed the 9ball.  I approached the tough shot left for me but hit the 9ball solidly to roll the cueball nicely around the table to the 10ball to grab another score.  On the next game, I run out well and get within one.  Score 6-5 her.

I use the bridge while on the 3ball in the next game because I lost cueball control after I hit the 2ball.  I scraped the 8ball with the bridge just a tad and the all-ball foul rule led to her having ball in hand.

And I tell you what - she ran out GREAT!  I was very impressed as she kept me in my seat the rest of the last game.  She was even jacked up again on a tough shot but nailed it!  She ran out beautifully.  She won 7-5.

I was not sad or upset or mad.  I should be disappointed with the two missed 10balls (obviously, that could have changed the whole outcome), but I really did give it my all and I played many, many great shots.

So, out in two.

But I am so thankful for another great experience and a good, personal tourney.  I am very pleased and I had a fun time.  Life is about living it to the fullest.  Just being able to play in this tourney is a blessing.

I would link you to the stream of my match, but the link isn't up yet from InsidePool.  Once it's up, I will post it in a new blog entry for ya.

I should also have some photos soon.  Although *I* might know a lot of important people, the main photographers don't know me from Adam so they didn't capture photos of me.  Being non-famous has it's downside - my second pro event and no photos to prove it, lol.  Luckily tho - one of my friends photographed the whole event and he got some shots of me.  I will post them when I receive them so you can all see I really did play in the event, lmao!

This is what I was going to wear on Saturday, but I didn't get to make it to day two (frown).  Black halter top with rhinestones.  In this event we were allowed to wear non collared shirts and so I took full advantage of my clothing plans!  lmao.  :)

IN dress code.  lol

Oh, and in case you missed it, here is my video tour of the event/arena: http://youtu.be/q3VPaOeOgWY

Ulimate 10 Ball Championships, Streaming, and Scoring

I'll be donating my money, lol, this weekend starting Friday in Frisco, Texas at the Ultimate 10 Ball Championships!

While that may seem like a negative statement, it's a fact I will play in the tourney because it's a close-to-home pro event which I can play in.  I have no expectations, except to win one game (not a match, but a game, lol).  I practiced 10 ball on Sunday night and am reviewing my notes from Brad Gilbert's great book, Winning Ugly, so I don't think I'll fall completely on my face with anxiety.

I'm excited to play, but admittedly I'm afraid I might be real nervous in my matches since I haven't  competed in the last six months.  Plus, they are seeding the pros, which means I will run into someone who has been playing consistently on 9 foot tables.

But I'm still very excited to be a part of this BIG pro tournament hosted in my area!

You can check out the brackets Thursday night at this link:  http://www.ultimate10ball.com/2011/

Further - FREE Streaming with no commercials will be available!  Check out the set up for the TWO live streaming tables and REAL LIVE scoring on one webpage:  (click photos to enlarge)