Matchroom Open Review

I am back! Had a great time over there. I can't recall when was the last time in Australia we have a $20k snooker tournament with only 44 entries. Monty and the Matchroom staffs has done a good job running the tournament. Somehow there are still a lot of improvements could be make. The table conditions were very crap. Only 6 tables were available, and I think 4 of them has new cloths in it, but the cloths on the cushions are old. It gives an uneven bounce off the rail. On Friday and Saturday, it was 37C outside. The room still using the evaporating type air con system. It was hot inside the room and also sticky. Too much moisture in the air, even on a new cloth, the table runs very slow. Table #1 and #2 has tight pockets, but all the balls roll off the rail. It is impossible to pot balls along the rail no matter how hard or soft you hit them. I didn't play on table #4, 5 and 6, so no comments from me, but they should definitely throw Table #3 away. More on it later!

My first match was against M.Hook, I played absolutely crap. Too hot inside the room and I were sweating after 5 min. Won the first frame easily, and won the second frame with a bit of luck on the black. In the final frame I cued well and won by a big margin.

On Saturday, I were up against Paul Balzer. We played on the butcher table #3. It was an old cloth, I think re-stretched. After a few shots, there were something wrong with the table. The table was not levelled. I played a shot from the top rail, rolls towards the balk. The cue ball rolled towards the yellow pocket about 1 1/2 ball length. Further more you can't play a lot of shots. When you hit it hard, the cue ball throws to the other way; No drag shots allow, coz the cloth has no grab, so everytime you drag, it becomes a swerve. No screw back when 2 balls like 2 feet's apart, coz the cloth has no grab ( either stop or stun follow), plus hitting it hard, the cue ball might throw off. Scrappy game all 5 frames, even Paul can't make anything over 30 with clear chances, pack wide open and colours all on spots. Playing on tables like this actually works in my advantage. Now it becomes a crap shot against a better player. Even Vinny, Ben Nunan, Jayden, they all can't pot a string of balls together on that table. Aaron made a break of 104 over there, by hitting plain ball on every shots.

In the first frame, I had a good chance to pinch it. With 3 reds on the table, all open, I cut back a red about 1/2 ball to the middle when the red was a couple inches under the blue spot. Just before it rolls to the pocket, the red rolled towards the upper jaw. Paul made a 15 break or so and pot 1 ball at a time and won the frame.

I won the second and Paul ran out in the third. In the forth frame I won on the yellow when he needed 1 snooker. Paul did enough in the final frame and won the match 3-2. Hard to judge my effort playing on conditions like these. Somehow I am having the feeling to play almost everyday. Its something lost in my blood over the last 4 years. Looking forward for the pennant tomorrow night vs Humphrey Bear's team. Should be a good season coming ahead.

Whenever tournaments is on, I will have a prop bet or 2 with Mr.Invincible. Before the tournament starts, I were already down $25 when Man United won 3-2 at Milan. So here are the bets I had with him for the weekend.
1) Everton +1/2 in EPL vs Man.United
2) Luke Hough vs MVP
3) S.Budd at 5 -1 to win the tournament
4) Vinny at 5-1 to win the tournament
5) Laying 4-1 on Mr.Invincible
6) Laying 8-1 on Bobo

Everton got up, Budd lost in first round. MVP 3-0 over Luke, but Vinny won the tournament. So I am up $125 Yum Cha credits.

My bad run in cards continues. Lost another $800 in Adelaide. I played in the $65 NLH freeze out tourny on Wed night. $2500 starting chips, and built it up to $4k+ after 2 rounds. With blinds $50/$100, I got AA in MP. After 2 limpers, I raised to $450. All folded to SB called, all folded to UTG also called. So 3 way action. Flop J Q 5 rainbow. All checked to me and I bet $800. Now SB shoved for $2k+ and UTG folded. I called. SB had 9 10 for straight draw. Turn 8 and I were drawing dead. Still had $2200 behind. A few hands later, I dealt the MIGHTY TUNA UTG. I raised to $250, sort of a block raise, knew no one will pop me back without a real hand. Now all folded to the BB and he called. Flop J 2 3 with 2 spades. I had no spades in my hand. SB over betting the pot for $600. With my top pair, I called. He might be on draw, want to know what he will do on the turn. Turn card an off suite J, so now I have trip Jacks. This time he shoved and had me covered. I called instantly. He turn over 4 5 off. River card 6. Now I bust! I lost another $700+ on Friday night playing BlackJack, losing 15 hands in a row. Can't win a hand, so from now on, I am not going to Crown or any casino for the next 6 months. I will go to the Pond, but not for cash games but only for the 2 tournys in the Sook's Deepstake. Need to stay away from there, and play more snooker. Once again I am enjoying it. It helps!