Steve Davis 14.1 Straight Pool 1987 (Steve Mizerak Challenge) PART 2/2

[jewturna]

I like all cue games so this is great to see

[ahz123]

I take it Davis won this one? I was disappointed not to see the game finish out. I don't understand how the commentators could pretend that such a skilled snooker player could have stress issues over 14.1, as if the game was fundamentally different, "Oh, he's going to have to plan a few shots ahead..."

[89Slh]

@ahz123 because in the same challenge Mizerak played against Hendry in a 3 set straight pool match race to 75 and Mizerak won 3-0. Hendry high run in 3 games was only 19 balls.

[nugget147]

@89Slh

The Hendry challenge took place three years after this one, so it's doubtful that they considered this future stat in their commentary. The reality is that the American commentator knows nothing about pool or snooker, and the English chap (Rex Williams) is just being typically understated. He does mention Steve running 80+ in the short time he had to prepare, though. Hendry running only 19 in three races to 75 is accurate, but hardly reflects his ability at the game.

[nugget147]

@89Slh

It would be like Mizerak losing a best of 5 snooker match to a few frame winning breaks and never making a break over 10. To extrapolate from this stat alone that Mizerak could not play snooker would be silly. It may in fact be the case, but you couldn't fairly come to this conclusion after such a short match.

[89Slh]

@nugget147 yes Hendry can run much more balls than only 19, but that challenge destroys the theory " great snooker player= great pool player" or " If Hendry starts pool he would rob everyone ( I heard this)"

Also there is a video where Mizerak made a 56 break. Is true Mizerak won against Hendry in snooker? I remember Mizerak won 5-0. This doesn't mean in snooker Mizerak is better than Hendry, absolutely not. But this proves Mizerak can play a little

[nugget147]

@89Slh

3 races to 75 where you barely get a shot says nothing about your ability to play pool. It doesn't destroy any theories or confirm any theories - it is one result from a very short match. Hendry lost 9-0 once to Marcus Campbell - this result, from a far longer match, is not an accurate portrayal of their respective abilities.

And...5-0? Mizerak lost the snooker challenge to Hendry. For Mizerak to beat Hendry 5-0 at snooker, you would first have to remove both of Hendry's arms.

[DamienLuu]

@ahz123

Davis won that set, but lost two others and lost the game. They had some text explaining about that at the end of the video. And yes, snooker and straight pool ARE different, although not "fundamentally". Anyway, when you play some games other than what you are master with, there always could have some kind of nerve in your game. At least that was what people thought when Davis had not yet played exceptionally 9-ball and other pool games.

[MrMotastic]

How low is the table?

[nimajnebrm]

@MrMotastic It's probably regular height. Davis is just pretty tall.

[nugget147]

@MrMotastic

Pool tables are lower than snooker tables, which can throw off a snooker player's regular stance. Few pool players would stand as square to the shot as Davis, with one leg locked straight and the other bent - they're generally more side-on, often bending both legs. Add Steve's long legs into the mix, with his snooker stance, and this is what it looks like!

[MrMotastic]

@nugget147 I've only seen davis on tv, never in person, and tv isn't really the best when it comes to the height of a person. Thanks anyway man.

[LeonFleisherFan]

All in all, I'm most impressed in hindsight with Davis's pattern play here, nowhere near as wayward as Snooker players sometimes get on a pool table (except of course towards the end of his run). Sure, a couple of his break shots are highly suspect (getting stuck to the rack once, lucky he could comfortably continue his run, and coming close to scratching once), but for a relative Straight Pool newbie? Thumbs up, very well done!

[OPaivio]

Who are the commentators?

[nugget147]

Former snooker pro Rex Williams and Pat Scanlon. I think Scanlon was an ESPN sportscaster or something like that, I don't think he was a player.

[OPaivio]

@nugget147 Thanks. Nice upload and a great run from the Nugget.

[BllueJeeper]

@OPaivio nuggets mmmhh :)