SWAT #2 of 2008

I had been waiting for this tournament for so many months. This is the tournament I won back in February - my first 2-day tournament win ever. :) They had to cancel the July stop but held onto the October date and after a few changes, it was luckily still held but in a new pool room instead of a convention center. I was happy they still held the tournament, coming up with alternative solutions instead of canceling it again.

I didn't think too much about the tournament - mentioned to only a couple of people I could win the scotch and singles division, but never once thought to myself I was the "defending champ" or that I should win. Just that I could.... but that was all the thought I gave it, knowing that there was really no telling how I would do but didn't want to put pressure on myself to do well, like I did for BCA State back in March.

I met with THE 8ball player of Fort Worth, Jose Zaragosa, on the Sunday afternoon before, for a 2.5 hour session of racing to 5 eightball. He won 5-3, 5-2, 5-3. I saw how delicately he separated balls, saw some clever safes and I had a few good runs of my own. We would talk about my options, why he shot certain things, or how I could have played something different. I would hope this would be good for me for my tourney!

I go to league on Tuesday feeling pumped up but only win 3 out of 5 games against players I should run over. Ugh! Damn..... but, that helps set the tone - not to take people for granted in the weekend coming up.

Diamond 7foot tables, 8 ball. What a beautiful scene at The Green Room in Temple, Texas!

I arrive Thursday evening, get plenty of rest for the 9am Friday morning start time for our first scotch match which leads to a 5-0 win. We played well together, even though I don't believe in practicing together. LOL. Mike lives in another city anyway but we play well together most of the time. We won the next match 5-0 also. :) The next match we play really well the first two games but somehow the tides start turning and we are faced with a 3-5 loss as we shake our heads walking away wondering wtf just happened? They didn't outplay us, but a few key shots cost us. We then play our next match and these opponents are much more competition. They run out from a scratch on the break and then break and run. They are up 0-2. A few mistakes by us and they are up 4-1 in a race to 5! We come back and tie it easily 4-4 once we finally get going and playing like we did earlier in the day. However... I shoot the wrong shot on the second ball on the hill-hill game, but we still run out to the 8.... but I leave Mike too long and tough with too much traffic around and he misses. They get out with two beautiful banks on the their last two balls to win 4-5. I am SICK. We get 5th out of about 20 teams and no money and I am really upset.

I get up the next morning, know my match is at 1030am and am ready to play after some breakfast tacos. :)

I won 5-0 against a really nice girl from Oklahoma (after a bye). I played pretty good I thought; got out well and such. I don't have to play until 5pm so a sweet nap is in order and I crash in front of the tv back at the hotel while everyone else hangs around the pool room. I don't get online and instead sleep for about two hours. It felt great to get rest but I was a little groggy from too much sleep as I walked in to play my second opponent late that afternoon. I play a really nice young girl who wants to do really well in the tournament (she told me earlier in the day). I think she got a little nervous as I was allowed back to the table more than I should and I won 5-2 or 5-3. I then don't have to play until 9am but I hang around to watch my friend Bonnie and hang out with friends Ray, Monica and Tracie. Then head to dinner at Texas RoadHouse - yummy!

Bonnie and I Saturday morning being funny
(I had to photoshop what the sign really said due to language - LOL).

I get up about 7am for my 9am match Sunday, recognizing from past learning experiences that being awake two hours before a match is always more beneficial for my shotmaking ability than just waking up in time to get to my match. I even have time for breakfast tacos and hit a few racks. I play my good friend Monica Anderson first and win 5-3. She played really well and I like her shape and choices at the table. I then have to play Kim Pierce next and I get a little nervous playing for the hotseat - not as bad as my previous tournament in Arlington, Texas, but enough to where I am playing timid and trying more safes instead of taking chances and shooting. She gets out on some really tough outs - ones I didn't think were runable - but she made some great shots and break-out shots to win 5-3 the hotseat match.

I then decide I am satisfied with my tournament so far but would love to still win. I.e., no pressure.

I play quite strong my next match and even surprised myself with some great shots! I won decisively 5-1. I then play Kim in the finals and she is playing the same style of running tough racks, but this time not getting out every time... plus, I am playing like I can/should play and played pretty sporty to win 5-2. This means a second set is in order. I try not to think about her son watching her play in the finals, or that I might win another tournament by dipping in the finals (like this very previous event in Feb). I tried not to think ahead and instead simply played pool. I played a tricky safe to get up 3-0 and then broke and ran nicely for a 4-0 score. At this point, someone asks me the score and it finally dons on me I might win! One more game to go. I stop that train of thought and don't think ahead, though, knowing anything can happen and knowing Kim can tie it up easily at any moment. I try to run out the next game but worry about scratching off a ball before the 8 and miss. She gets out beautifully and with authority. I win the next game though and win the second set 5-1 for the tournament win!

Bonnie Plowman just won the Open (men's side) and she high fives me and my scotch partner is still there and I hug him because he helps me with my game. He showed me a few shots afterwards I could have done differently but also tells me I impressed him. :)

The winners, Bonnie Plowman and I
(photo taken at a previous tournament).

I went home and as I drove the (luckily) only two hour drive I called my friends to share the news and even got to have a quick celebratory dinner at a Fast Food restaurant on the way home with my friend Ray to celebrate (even tho he made me buy, lol). Monica tells me,"I think you are the only one surprised." Well, I was. I still am!

$360 richer and possibly a new phone is in order now with my winnings. :)

I specifically called one more person on the way home and say to my sparring 8ball partner, Jose Zaragosa:, "I owe you a beer" and he replies excitedly, "Why? Did you win?" I said, "I did!" I could hear his smile on the other end and he congratulated me and said he was proud and very happy for me. :)

As I wrote in Feb about my other win, I was shocked. And this time, I am shocked as well. But very, very happy. One word description: amazed.