IBSF World Amateur Championships

[fred.england]

Wise words Fred! I am trying to slow down around the table as I tend to play too quickly especially when I can see a big break on. Normally rush the first shot and then have to sit down and watch my opponent slowly clean up.

I'm unsure if it's all in my mind but I play very methodically now ie. My approach for EVERY shot is identical now. Stand behind the line of aim, walk into the shot, SLOWLY drop my head etc etc. The thing I'm struggling with is my breathing. Whilst down on the shot I was always able to control my breaths so I was absolutely still at the point of delivery. As I'm breathing heavily all the time now it is something I'm finding hard to control!

[mythman69]

I'm unsure if it's all in my mind but I play very methodically now ie. My approach for EVERY shot is identical now. Stand behind the line of aim, walk into the shot, SLOWLY drop my head etc etc. The thing I'm struggling with is my breathing. Whilst down on the shot I was always able to control my breaths so I was absolutely still at the point of delivery. As I'm breathing heavily all the time now it is something I'm finding hard to control!

I am working on it Fred . . .

[the montrealer]

Leonard:

Forgot to mention Paul Flemming is going for the Masters at his own expense of course and I've heard John Everakian is considering going over for the Mens but there is still one spot to fill on the Masters side.

If you know of any players over 40 in Montreal who would like to go have them contact Steve Cooper right away as he has to get the info in by Oct 15th. They will need an effective passport and Steve needs a photo of face and shoulders along with high match and practice breaks right away.

It would be nice to have all 5 spots filled as they granted Canada an extra Masters spot for this year.

Go to the cues for sale section and you'll see my posting 'Cues For Sale - Something For Everyone'. Pictures, specs and prices are all in there. The H&O Black Plate has been sold and the TW is waiting on payment but all the rest are still available. Some really good cues there, especially that maple GB/MW 3/4.

Terry


Terry

HI Terry that is great news for Canadian Players the only trouble is that there is not enough money in the Canadian Snooker Champs for players like Robidoux Chaperon Cliff Thorburn Kirk Stevens to play in the Canadian Snooker Championships as these players would have a great chance to play in the World Amateur

Also would you know if there is Prize Money in the World Amateur Snooker Champinships if there is no prize money i do not see the point for Canadian Players to play in the World Amateur

By the way Terry good Luck in the World Amateur

Awaiting your reply cheers Leonard

[Terry Davidson]

Leonard:

Kirk has played and won the Canadians recently and did play in the Worlds but lost in the last 16 I believe. Now your hero Alain won the Canadians but chose not to play in the Worlds that year even though there is prize money in the Worlds and I believe it's around $6,000(US) if I'm not mistaken.

Realistically, in my opinion there are no Canadian players who have the game to win the World Amateur at this time, including Alain and Bob who I consider to be the 2 best in Canada. Now Alain could (maybe) win the World Masters but he would have to beat Darren Morgan who still plays really well. Last year Darren lost just 2 frames in the whole tournament and that was in the final against Glen Wilkinson of Australia.

If the only point in playing amateur snooker is to win money then those players would be better off just gambling or setting up challenge matches for big bucks. Winning the World Amateur Mens means the player is offered his pro ticket automatically so the winner has the opportunity to make big bucks in the pro game, but that is very hard and a whole other discussion.

By the way, the Canadians from now on will have even less prize money as the intent is to reduce the prize fund and give each of the 4 players selected around $1,700 in traveling expense money, but only if they play in the Worlds. This change will likely further discourage participation by Cliff, Alain, Bob and Kirk and some of the other ex-pros like John White and Tom Finstad however there is still the prestige to play for but all of them have already won the Canadians many times over but none of them have ever won the World Amateur.

Thanks you for your good luck sentiment. In reality there are a lot of really good players in the Masters division too so it's really tough but there is prize money. Last year in Bulgaria it was reduced but I believe Darren won $3,000(US) for winning. This year the prize fund in all disciplines will be higher they say.

Alain is over 40yrs old I believe so he could play in the Masters if he wanted and I would very much like to see that as I think he would have a good chance to pull it off.

Terry

[the montrealer]

Leonard:

Kirk has played and won the Canadians recently and did play in the Worlds but lost in the last 16 I believe. Now your hero Alain won the Canadians but chose not to play in the Worlds that year even though there is prize money in the Worlds and I believe it's around $6,000(US) if I'm not mistaken.

Realistically, in my opinion there are no Canadian players who have the game to win the World Amateur at this time, including Alain and Bob who I consider to be the 2 best in Canada. Now Alain could (maybe) win the World Masters but he would have to beat Darren Morgan who still plays really well. Last year Darren lost just 2 frames in the whole tournament and that was in the final against Glen Wilkinson of Australia.

If the only point in playing amateur snooker is to win money then those players would be better off just gambling or setting up challenge matches for big bucks. Winning the World Amateur Mens means the player is offered his pro ticket automatically so the winner has the opportunity to make big bucks in the pro game, but that is very hard and a whole other discussion.

By the way, the Canadians from now on will have even less prize money as the intent is to reduce the prize fund and give each of the 4 players selected around $1,700 in traveling expense money, but only if they play in the Worlds. This change will likely further discourage participation by Cliff, Alain, Bob and Kirk and some of the other ex-pros like John White and Tom Finstad however there is still the prestige to play for but all of them have already won the Canadians many times over but none of them have ever won the World Amateur.

Thanks you for your good luck sentiment. In reality there are a lot of really good players in the Masters division too so it's really tough but there is prize money. Last year in Bulgaria it was reduced but I believe Darren won $3,000(US) for winning. This year the prize fund in all disciplines will be higher they say.

Alain is over 40yrs old I believe so he could play in the Masters if he wanted and I would very much like to see that as I think he would have a good chance to pull it off.

Terry

HI Terry Thanks for the quick reply I agree with you the trouble with Canadian Snooker there is no relief as mostly the good Snooker Players like Cliff Thorburn Kirk Stevens Alain Robidoux are getting older and are slowing down with their game. In Canada nobody teaches you how to play snooker in the old days you had to learn by yourself

The only thing left for the Canadian Snooker Players is to play in the Seniors World Champinships or on the Legends Tour in the Uk which is being played this weekend . Alain Robidoux will be playing Tony Chappel who beat Alain Robidoux last year in the second round. on Oct 19 and Oct 20 2013. It will be shown on Sky Sports and hopefully it will be shown on www.sportslemon.tv cheers LEONARD

[the montrealer]

HI Terry Thanks for the quick reply I agree with you the trouble with Canadian Snooker there is no relief as mostly the good Snooker Players like Cliff Thorburn Kirk Stevens Alain Robidoux are getting older and are slowing down with their game. In Canada nobody teaches you how to play snooker in the old days you had to learn by yourself

The only thing left for the Canadian Snooker Players is to play in the Seniors World Champinships or on the Legends Tour in the Uk which is being played this weekend . Alain Robidoux will be playing Tony Chappel who beat Alain Robidoux last year in the second round. on Oct 19 and Oct 20 2013. It will be shown on Sky Sports and hopefully it will be shown on www.sportslemon.tv cheers LEONARD

HI Terry go to the follwing website www.fromsport.com and it will bring you to sportlemon.tv

[Terry Davidson]

Leornard:

I use sportlemon.tv all the time, which is actually fromsport

Terry

[Terry Davidson]

Well, I see both Darren Morgan and Dean O'Kane are entered in the Masters so they have to be the favourites.

Last year Darren said he probably wouldn't be going this year but I guess he just can't give up the limelight! He just played in the World Seniors too and so did Dean I believe.

If I had to predict I think Darren just might have the edge as he is so solid. Very few mistakes.

Terry

[DeanH]

I would also go with Darren, Dene did not look comfortable at the World Seniors.

[Terry Davidson]

Another interesting item...Corey Deuel, the US Pro pool player has entered and been confirmed in the Mens division. He just won the US Snooker title recently.

Terry

[Terry Davidson]

A question for the British on here. Why are there no women from England, Scotland and Wales in the World Champs? Is it a lack of money?

Terry

[Snookster]

IBSF World Amateur Championships

hi terry
I'll be representing England in masters tournament in Latvia
should be a great event
Rob

[Terry Davidson]

Rob:

Yes, I saw your name on the list. I haven't seen you for over 25 years now so it will be good to touch bases again. I was in Sofia last year and it was good to see some familiar faces from our time on the pro-am circuit in the late 80's (although Jeff Cundy didn't recognize me at first but weirdly Darren Morgan knew me right away - maybe the Canadian accent!)

See you on the 26/27 of Nov

Terry

[Erwan_BZH]

Just noticed you're playing in the tourny Terry, so good luck mate!!

[Terry Davidson]

I did manage to qualify for the knock-out stages, but more from luck than good management. I had a 72 break against Paul Jamieson of Scotland but lost that match 3-1 as his safety play was excellent, far better than mine as it turned out.

Next match is Thursday at 10am. Conditions are great although it's hard to get a practice table with 250 players here.

Last year's champ is here again but he will have some really tough opposition. There's a young Chinese kid around 15yrs who is playing really well and might win it all. On the Women's side there's another young Chinese who has already had one ton and a bunch of high breaks so Wendy Jans from Belgium might have a battle to retain the title. (I've never seen smoother cue actions on an amateur and that's both of them.)

Terry