So into the one-loss side and I had to play Karl Read, I've played him twice in main events before he beat me 7-0 in Wavertree last year and 7-1 at Birmingham in February, great. First rack he runs the table but misses the 8, I pot the simple 8 followed by the 9, 1-0. Rack 2 same pattern again, this time he runs to the 9 loses position, plays a safety and I catch the 9 far too thick it goes off the head rail, side rail into the side pocket 2-0 to me. Before I know it I'm 4-0 up. I've never been more than 2 racks ahead in a tour match since I played my first event in April 2007. He wins the fifth rack on 3 fouls, and from then the match turned. I'm not moaning because Karl played well and he showed why he is a European and US Open Champion, in the end he beat me 7-4, I'm not gonna sit here and say that happened, this happened, what if blah, blah blah.
I played and felt the best I ever have in a tour match for the majority of that match, even when Karl was coming back. One thing I didn't do was think I had the match won at 4-0 up, I knew Karl would come back because I've seen him do it before, I kept saying to myself "You've still got to win the match", credit to Karl though he had to dig in. I was disappointed, but as I say I played the best I ever have on the BWPPA and I kept calm and composed which is a big thing for me. I've dropped down a place to #13 in the main rankings, disappointing but I will start practising again next Tuesday, I need to put some more silicone on the bridge I use for shots off the rail, I will do that on Monday, leave it to dry ready for Tuesday.
I know I have the ability to prove a few doubters wrong. I've said since last year, I think I should be in the top 10 at least, but at the end of the day I've not got the results, but I work hard and I will continue to do so, I've gone from playing my worst in a tournament, which was last week at the Barnsley 8-ball, and my best up to now at the BWPPA in Wavertree, so there's two lessons that I can build on, the next BWPPA event is 30-31st October British Championship at my home club Rileys Barnsley.
Away from pool, I went to see the Bootleg Beatles with my mum on Saturday night at the Philarmonic Hall in Liverpool, I'd seen them on TV before and their tag of being "the worlds best tribute band" is justified, to the point where if you listened to a Beatles CD and then went to watch the Bootleg Beatles, without knowing the difference, you would believe you were actually watching the real Beatles it was a great night, and I would see them again. Also went around Liverpool city centre on Sunday afternoon, me and mum booked a table at Piccolino's Italian but, on the way there we realized they'd closed most of the roads because there was a festival on. After an hour we finally got to our destination and afterwards listened to some of the music. I've never seen so many people in a city centre, only at football matches and gigs.
Anyway until next time Ciao!
Matt x
Image courtesy of Andy Warden of Belleza Photography
