It's really strange for me watching this 31 years later,as a 51 year old now,I look at Steve Mizerak and he looks a lot older than I feel or look,yet he is actually only 43 here. He just looks unhealthy and it is no surprise to hear that he died from heart problems at a pretty young age. He really was a great pool player though.
It’s always the same in these type of matches. The snooker players are by far the better players but the breaking is what let’s them down. If you get a good break in this game you’ve won the frame, especially with those huge pockets.
Not to mention 2/3 of the sets are played with massive balls and pockets, as compared to snooker table/balls. Snooker isn’t a game that relies on the power shots of 8-ball. Shots only possible because the balls are easier to sink. Check out Ronnie O'Sullivan’s TV show where he plays some 8-ball if you want a real laugh
Even tho I agree that snooker requires more precision as far as potting is concerned, it is silly to say, "in pool the pockets are larger", because the balls are also larger. It's not as if they are using snooker-sized balls when they play pool. Besides I just enjoy the game I don't care which game it is, it is enjoyable to watch excellent players play.
Dan Kelly But do remember mate in pool it really is pretty easy to make a shot down a cushion (or 'rail') with no real thought or difficulty in the shot - as long as it's vaugley on target the pocket size will just calmly let it in. In Snooker, pots where the ball is near the cushion are so difficult. The pockets in Snooker are never going to let anything in if you don't hit it into the middle of the already tight pocket
Are you aware that despite the increase in ball size the pockets are so big that the ball can move away from the side rail and still go in? They are huge. It’s very difficult to miss. Basically if you can pot off the break your pretty much on for the win.
The rack that Mizerak completed around 35:00 was played remarkably well. The commentators don't understand 8 ball, which is all about patterns and breaking clusters, etc. All they're talking about is the difficulty of the pots relative to a snooker table, lol. Jimmy is great to watch as always, no matter what game he's playing. That ball whacking at 22:00 was kinda wild though. Can't believe they weren't playing called pockets
Interesting video for sure and no doubt both are amazing at billiards. ......with that said, I've watched countless videos of Efren Reyes's magic on the table and tbh, he truly was in a league of his own. What I notice the biggest difference in play between these fine players and Reyes was Reyes's undeniable ability to place the cue ball where he needed it. His mastery ball control was second to none imo. Regardless, very fun video. 👍👍
If the miz was given ample time to practice, and used a snooker cue, he'd have been a proper snooker player. Even Ronnie plays and Tony Drago use pool cues now, when playing pool.
Mizerak made the mistake of entering the World Snooker Championship in 1988 and 1989 where he found out just how easy pool is by comparison. He got thrashed both times in his opening qualifying matches by two low ranked nobodies.
+EvelcyclopS Is there a particular point to this remark? Such as in phenomenally impressive for someone who never played Snooker, since there weren't any tables to practice on where he came from? But even with cue sports having become more international, how many racks of 9-Ball, let alone Straight Pool would one expect a Snooker player to run on average? How many games of One Pocket would one win in a challenge match against one of the greats, such as Efren Reyes, if any? But it's true that it's fun to see players do well on foreign soil - diversity is good for all cue sports. As a matter of fact, I remember being happy at the time that Steve Davis fared a little better against Mizerak in their Fiat Challenge. That the latter would do similarly well in Snooker as the Snooker pros did in pool wasn't really a surprise at all - except to those who didn't know players like the Miz (who, ironically, was increasingly past his prime in the eighties, yet still a threat). The big guy was smoothness personified, a joy to watch. I sure miss him…
+LeonFleisherFan a 50 break in skillet is a much more sizeable challenge than any in pool though. Any amateur snooker player has had break and runs and even myself have had some sizeable straight pool breaks, but your typical pool player just would t have the cue all control and cue action to live with the tiny pockets in snooker. We see a lot of snooker players playing pool, but not many pool players making it over to snooker.
EvelcyclopS I see where you're coming from now. Pray tell, what's your favorite Snooker player's high run in Straight Pool? Or consecutive balls in One Pocket, or racks in 8-, 9- or 10-Ball? It seems you're only acquainted with the difficulties of your favorite cue sport. No one is contesting that 50 in Snooker is a nice run (even I can do that, and I've played Snooker only a couple times in decades), but remember it's roughly the equivalent of a rack of Straight Pool, without the advantage of every second ball being re-spotted for ease of pattern/position play. The problem is that a rack of Straight Pool won't win anyone a game, nor half a game, nor anything for that matter…
+LeonFleisherFan I watched Steve Davis play a nice straight pool game, think he scored above 80. Certainly a lot of skill to set up for the break. But I've played a lot of pool, in many forms (American 8,9 ball, poker, straight, one pocket) also English pool too which is a great game. In my opinion a 50 break in snooker is really a lot harder than most pool games. Would agree with you that straight pool is probably the toughest challenge as far as pool goes (perhaps one pocket?) but still the positioning in straight pool is more simple. Anyway, love this mizerak guy, seems like a lovely bloke.
+EvelcyclopS To avoid misunderstanding, I admire and understand Snooker and love watching great players/performances. It's not that we pool players underestimate the difficulties playing Snooker (even if, thanks to the larger playing surface, position play is much easier than on a pool table, and thanks to the re-spotting of the so-called "colors", the pattern play so repetitive, it's much easier to grasp and put to practice). But the fact alone that any given shot may seem easier to execute on a pool table doesn't mean that superior pocketing skills make a great player. One only needs to watch Jimmy's pattern play in 8-Ball here to realize the difficulties lie elsewhere.
Snooker Table vs Pool Table: the table I play on that has 3-7/8" (9.8 cm) is only 6% larger than a snooker table (using the ration of ball size to pocket size). This allows one's skill to develop into cue ball manipulation by cheating the pocket. The weight of the pool ball also is a huge factor in controlling the position play.
I wanted Jimmy to beat Missarack. Missarack got a few lucky breaks here Jimmy should have won. The woman sitting next to Missaracks wife was pretty nice indeed.
+AngrierGorilla Total give-up stroke, and it ends up winning him a game… Jimmy White, needless to say, has always been a people's favorite, but the fact alone that he'd lose patience instead of using his incredible talent to try and overcome a seemingly lost cause, is disheartening to see. The problem, of course, is that his superior pocketing skills couldn't overcome his ignorance of 8-Ball pattern play. Pool may look easy, but watching him is a healthy reminder that it's not…
yeah, when I heard him say that I almost fell out of my chair. The 3.5 x 7 ft tables in the U.S. are a joke and I won't cheapen myself to play on them. 4 x 8 is bad enough. But 3 x 6 ft pool tables I thought they were an urban legend.
i had to buy what i could afford for under $40,i read reviews on other wholesale online billiard websites ppl saying cues were warped,but ive been practing with with the cue,its improving ,put a better tip on it
no,but bar uptown is a pay table,on wedsday night its free pool,,group of guys play 9 ball for money,i dont like playing for money a beer maybe,i play for the love of the game
+ericou812 Well that's cool. I can't play for no $$, because I don't want any tips given for free, and I don't focus-- pick up bad habits, and ultimately get thrown outta my competitive stroke. Never a good thing.
Stopped watching when the announcer compared snooker pockets to pool table pockets. However I did find it funny when Jimmy White missed shots on the HUGE pockets and the announcer said nothing
"BCA tournament rules" are clear about what is a "foul" shot, the legal positions of a "ball-in-hand", and how to perform a "push out" (the three things most players seem to get backwards, and then perpetuate.) -- there is no "slop" in 8-ball, there's also no "kitchen". (BCA = "Billiards Congress of America") see also ISBN10:1592287441 ISBN13:978-1592287444
+Shaun Wilson Back then, there was a kitchen in 8 & 9-ball. The BCA only recently amended the rules for 8-ball a few years back. The BCA adopted the Texas Express rules for 9-ball in late 80s-early 90s or so. Before that, in 9-ball, in the event of a foul on the break, the 1st shot after the break was from the kitchen and the 1ball spotted if it crossed the head string.
Interesting to learn, thanks. I've only been playing since 1996 or so, and I used to play by "the old rules" until someone corrected me. I always assumed that "the kitchen" wasn't ever a legitimate play as a result.. it's always good to know if and when things changed I suppose.
Two great champions 👏 👏 The world misses Steve, and Jimmy is such a great player, too many memories of epic proportions.
I recall Steve Mizerak doing a beer commercial many years ago.
It's really strange for me watching this 31 years later,as a 51 year old now,I look at Steve Mizerak and he looks a lot older than I feel or look,yet he is actually only 43 here. He just looks unhealthy and it is no surprise to hear that he died from heart problems at a pretty young age. He really was a great pool player though.
I'm playing POOL PARADISE on the GameCube in 2023 and Jimmy White is the top player to beat..seriously addictive to this day!
Probably should have finished with Billiards, a game unfamiliar to them both.
The Miz is one of the greatest of all time.
Awesome.. thank you 👍🇳🇿
It’s always the same in these type of matches. The snooker players are by far the better players but the breaking is what let’s them down. If you get a good break in this game you’ve won the frame, especially with those huge pockets.
Not to mention 2/3 of the sets are played with massive balls and pockets, as compared to snooker table/balls.
Snooker isn’t a game that relies on the power shots of 8-ball. Shots only possible because the balls are easier to sink.
Check out Ronnie O'Sullivan’s TV show where he plays some 8-ball if you want a real laugh
Outstanding match between two excellent players
Even tho I agree that snooker requires more precision as far as potting is concerned, it is silly to say, "in pool the pockets are larger", because the balls are also larger. It's not as if they are using snooker-sized balls when they play pool. Besides I just enjoy the game I don't care which game it is, it is enjoyable to watch excellent players play.
Dan Kelly But do remember mate in pool it really is pretty easy to make a shot down a cushion (or 'rail') with no real thought or difficulty in the shot - as long as it's vaugley on target the pocket size will just calmly let it in.
In Snooker, pots where the ball is near the cushion are so difficult. The pockets in Snooker are never going to let anything in if you don't hit it into the middle of the already tight pocket
Are you aware that despite the increase in ball size the pockets are so big that the ball can move away from the side rail and still go in? They are huge. It’s very difficult to miss. Basically if you can pot off the break your pretty much on for the win.
The rack that Mizerak completed around 35:00 was played remarkably well. The commentators don't understand 8 ball, which is all about patterns and breaking clusters, etc. All they're talking about is the difficulty of the pots relative to a snooker table, lol. Jimmy is great to watch as always, no matter what game he's playing. That ball whacking at 22:00 was kinda wild though. Can't believe they weren't playing called pockets
I know this comment is three years old, but those commentators had no idea what they were doing with eight ball
i wish i could've had the opportunity back then to play steve miserak, oh how things would be different
The English players look so classy and stylish around the table.
22:00 did the top pro just really apa that sheet?
did Jimmy use his usual cue for the pool?
Interesting video for sure and no doubt both are amazing at billiards. ......with that said, I've watched countless videos of Efren Reyes's magic on the table and tbh, he truly was in a league of his own.
What I notice the biggest difference in play between these fine players and Reyes was Reyes's undeniable ability to place the cue ball where he needed it. His mastery ball control was second to none imo.
Regardless, very fun video. 👍👍
It would have been interesting to see them round off the competition with a final match of 3 cushion.
If the miz was given ample time to practice, and used a snooker cue, he'd have been a proper snooker player. Even Ronnie plays and Tony Drago use pool cues now, when playing pool.
It’s like assuming a tennis player could be good at badminton.
Two entirely different games. I disagreev
which is the order of the balls in this tournament? thanks a lot.
Good match show more match play
great shot 👍
There's clear difference in the games between Simonis cloth and the old felt. They are hammering these shots and still coming short on position.
is either of these games played much in France?!
What a great match!
Mizerak made the mistake of entering the World Snooker Championship in 1988 and 1989 where he found out just how easy pool is by comparison. He got thrashed both times in his opening qualifying matches by two low ranked nobodies.
Jimmy White's Lady Fan flew in to watch The Miz,,, Rob Jimmy White at Straight Pool,,, and 8 Ball.... Lollllllllllllllllll
I thought they kept talking about a miss-rack....but they're saying Mizerak.
Mizorak with a 52 break at snooker is phenomenally impressive for an American pool player
+EvelcyclopS Is there a particular point to this remark? Such as in phenomenally impressive for someone who never played Snooker, since there weren't any tables to practice on where he came from? But even with cue sports having become more international, how many racks of 9-Ball, let alone Straight Pool would one expect a Snooker player to run on average? How many games of One Pocket would one win in a challenge match against one of the greats, such as Efren Reyes, if any? But it's true that it's fun to see players do well on foreign soil - diversity is good for all cue sports. As a matter of fact, I remember being happy at the time that Steve Davis fared a little better against Mizerak in their Fiat Challenge. That the latter would do similarly well in Snooker as the Snooker pros did in pool wasn't really a surprise at all - except to those who didn't know players like the Miz (who, ironically, was increasingly past his prime in the eighties, yet still a threat). The big guy was smoothness personified, a joy to watch. I sure miss him…
+LeonFleisherFan a 50 break in skillet is a much more sizeable challenge than any in pool though. Any amateur snooker player has had break and runs and even myself have had some sizeable straight pool breaks, but your typical pool player just would t have the cue all control and cue action to live with the tiny pockets in snooker. We see a lot of snooker players playing pool, but not many pool players making it over to snooker.
EvelcyclopS I see where you're coming from now. Pray tell, what's your favorite Snooker player's high run in Straight Pool? Or consecutive balls in One Pocket, or racks in 8-, 9- or 10-Ball? It seems you're only acquainted with the difficulties of your favorite cue sport. No one is contesting that 50 in Snooker is a nice run (even I can do that, and I've played Snooker only a couple times in decades), but remember it's roughly the equivalent of a rack of Straight Pool, without the advantage of every second ball being re-spotted for ease of pattern/position play. The problem is that a rack of Straight Pool won't win anyone a game, nor half a game, nor anything for that matter…
+LeonFleisherFan I watched Steve Davis play a nice straight pool game, think he scored above 80. Certainly a lot of skill to set up for the break. But I've played a lot of pool, in many forms (American 8,9 ball, poker, straight, one pocket) also English pool too which is a great game. In my opinion a 50 break in snooker is really a lot harder than most pool games. Would agree with you that straight pool is probably the toughest challenge as far as pool goes (perhaps one pocket?) but still the positioning in straight pool is more simple.
Anyway, love this mizerak guy, seems like a lovely bloke.
+EvelcyclopS To avoid misunderstanding, I admire and understand Snooker and love watching great players/performances. It's not that we pool players underestimate the difficulties playing Snooker (even if, thanks to the larger playing surface, position play is much easier than on a pool table, and thanks to the re-spotting of the so-called "colors", the pattern play so repetitive, it's much easier to grasp and put to practice). But the fact alone that any given shot may seem easier to execute on a pool table doesn't mean that superior pocketing skills make a great player. One only needs to watch Jimmy's pattern play in 8-Ball here to realize the difficulties lie elsewhere.
attention to all pockets..!!! 22:00
Snooker Table vs Pool Table: the table I play on that has 3-7/8" (9.8 cm) is only 6% larger than a snooker table (using the ration of ball size to pocket size). This allows one's skill to develop into cue ball manipulation by cheating the pocket. The weight of the pool ball also is a huge factor in controlling the position play.
wow jimmies first approach to the table.. that miss? what happened
I wanted Jimmy to beat Missarack. Missarack got a few lucky breaks here Jimmy should have won. The woman sitting next to Missaracks wife was pretty nice indeed.
33:15-35:15 = Brilliance.
+11rockiton What a great pool player does: run out, regardless… Beauty!
26:50 combo the 3 in for a safety.
Mizerak has a really nice grip throughout his action, reminiscent of John Higgins grip
This wasn't totally fair to Jimmy it was as if they tailored the format to advantage Missarack.
Steve was too damn slow. I lost my patient to watch him play. Luckily TH-cam has skip button. Unluckily, it doesn't help much while Steve was playing.
jimmy white ....
22:00
That's disgusting.
Jimmy White sempre foi um perdedor nato, jogava como nunca e perdia como sempre !
he plays the game casually.. but has all the talent
8 ball with no call shots is totally wrong and brings to gruesome shots like Jimmy did at 22:00
+AngrierGorilla Total give-up stroke, and it ends up winning him a game… Jimmy White, needless to say, has always been a people's favorite, but the fact alone that he'd lose patience instead of using his incredible talent to try and overcome a seemingly lost cause, is disheartening to see. The problem, of course, is that his superior pocketing skills couldn't overcome his ignorance of 8-Ball pattern play. Pool may look easy, but watching him is a healthy reminder that it's not…
LeonFleisherFan
Totally agree!
Jimmy legende
6 X 3 tables in England lol that's a toy.
yeah, when I heard him say that I almost fell out of my chair. The 3.5 x 7 ft tables in the U.S. are a joke and I won't cheapen myself to play on them. 4 x 8 is bad enough. But 3 x 6 ft pool tables I thought they were an urban legend.
vare naet
Jimmy white at 11 min mark 🤣
If someone ended a match against me putting that black I’d be pissed hahah get on with it!
mizerak pool cues are junk,i bought a 1 at dicks sporting goods store,it was warped,took it back to exchange it 3 others in the box were warped
Little advice, don't buy a cue from a sporting goods store.
i had to buy what i could afford for under $40,i read reviews on other wholesale online billiard websites ppl saying cues were warped,but ive been practing with with the cue,its improving ,put a better tip on it
+ericou812 Do u shoot 9 ball for $cash$ by any chance??
no,but bar uptown is a pay table,on wedsday night its free pool,,group of guys play 9 ball for money,i dont like playing for money a beer maybe,i play for the love of the game
+ericou812 Well that's cool. I can't play for no $$, because I don't want any tips given for free, and I don't focus-- pick up bad habits, and ultimately get thrown outta my competitive stroke. Never a good thing.
odko
Jozef Slepcik event Jennifer barretta Jennifer barretta
Stopped watching when the announcer compared snooker pockets to pool table pockets. However I did find it funny when Jimmy White missed shots on the HUGE pockets and the announcer said nothing
two years after I beat him one handed in Portland. Just sayin'
Sure you did buddy. Sure you did.
Pros playing Slop? WTF??
"BCA tournament rules" are clear about what is a "foul" shot, the legal positions of a "ball-in-hand", and how to perform a "push out" (the three things most players seem to get backwards, and then perpetuate.) -- there is no "slop" in 8-ball, there's also no "kitchen". (BCA = "Billiards Congress of America") see also ISBN10:1592287441 ISBN13:978-1592287444
+Shaun Wilson Back then, there was a kitchen in 8 & 9-ball. The BCA only recently amended the rules for 8-ball a few years back. The BCA adopted the Texas Express rules for 9-ball in late 80s-early 90s or so. Before that, in 9-ball, in the event of a foul on the break, the 1st shot after the break was from the kitchen and the 1ball spotted if it crossed the head string.
Interesting to learn, thanks. I've only been playing since 1996 or so, and I used to play by "the old rules" until someone corrected me. I always assumed that "the kitchen" wasn't ever a legitimate play as a result.. it's always good to know if and when things changed I suppose.
BCA changed the rule in 1987 so I guess they are playing the "new" rule here - cheers!
They continued shooting after pocketing with the wrong pocket. That's slop.