I have been in Taiwan last week to play the world pool championship (9-ball)
We all had to arrive on tuesday and on wednesday they had programmed the press conference and players meeting. This year we didn't play in Taipei but in Tao Yuan. We had to drive an hour to Taipei especialy for the press conference and the players meeting. I almost took a whole day, which was to long because we al had problems with the time difference (+ 6 hours)
On thursday we started playing, I had a tough group ( Jasmin Oushan, Megan Minerich, Kelly Fisher, Lyndall Hulley and also a winner from the qualifying event)
I had to play my first match against Kelly Fisher and I lost 5-0, what a way to start a world championship
I mist a few balls that I shouldn't have, I just couldn't get in the match and a race to 5 isn't helping of course. It's a joke for a World championship really. And then the 2nd problem was that the pocket were way to big, there were balls going in that never should have gone in. In the afternoon that day I had to play my 2nd match against that qualifying girl I believe she was Taiwanees. I won that match 5-3.
On friday I had to play 3 matches, in the morning I played against the Australian girl Lyndall Hulley and I won 5-2. In the afternoon I had a tough match against Jasmin Oushan but I like tough matches
and I won 5-3. So because I won that match I only needed to win 3 games against Megan Minerich and so I did I won 5-1.So Kelly fisher, Jasmin Oushan and I all had lost 1 match in our group so you would think that they look who won against who but they do it different and look to the winning racks first. So I became third in my group. Becoming 2nd or 3rd in a group didn't make much difference because those had to play the 24 and the groups winners went straight into the last 16. So on Saturday we played the last 24 and believe it or not I had to play Jasmin Oushan again, usually you can't play the first round against someone from your group but they have different rules.
Jasmin and I were the first match of that day, we started at noon. I can tell you a little bit about this match because John Barton did live coverage on the AZ billiards website. Starting from rack 3.
Rack 3: I broke and made a ball on the break, I did see the 1 ball but didn't have a shot so I played a nice safety. Jasmin misses and I clear up.
So 3-0 for me. Rack 4: I broke but no ball in and the 9 ball just stayed in the corner pocket so an easy 1-9 combo for Jasmin. Score 3-1
Rack 5: Jasmin breaks and clears the table. score 3-2. Rack 6: Jasmin breaks after a few safety shots from both of us she left me hooked on the 4 ball I decided to kick it and it almost went in but unfortunately it didn't and Jasmin ran out score 3-3
Rack 7: Jasmin breaks dry but leaves me no shot, i had to make the 1 ball because it was hanging in the pocket so I couldn't push out the problem was that it was hard to get to the 2 ball and I hooked myself on the 2 ball I kicked it but left her a shot and she clears up. score 3-4
Rack 8: no info on that one. score 3-5.
rack 9: Jasmin breaks makes 2 balls but has no shot on the 3 ball she attempts a safety and gets a fortunate roll leaving me a tough thin 3 ball down the rail I couldn't do much with it so I tried to slice it in and I did it perfect and I was lucky as well because the cue ball ran into the 9 ball and went in!
score 4-5
rack 10: I broke and made the wing ball but I didn't have a shot on the 1 so I played a safety, we did that a few times and eventually she left me a shot and I ran out. score 5-5
rack 11: I broke and ran out. score 6-5
rack 12: I broke and scratched leaving Jasmin an open table but she got out of position and left herself tougher and tougher so she missed and I ran out. score 7-5!
That same day I had to play The 2times world champion Ga Young Kim I lost that match 7-2 but there wasn't much I could do about it, I just couldn't get any roll and she had the rolls.
So 9th place finish this year hopefully beter next year, and I do hope they change it a little bit and make the pockets smaller and the races longer so it can be a fair world championship.
I had a good time but i'm glad to go back home now, in about 5 weeks I go to Las Vegas again so wish me luck and talk to you then.
Wendy